Annette went to be with her Lord at 1:00 am this morning, peacefullly. We are grateful for her peace, though we miss her greatly already. We will post more details as they are made.
53 comments:
Anonymous
said...
I am so sorry and saddened to read this. No words can capture the sorrow that will be felt by so many people that knew her. My heart breaks for you all and for all of us who will miss her so... My prayers are with you Tom, Ryan, Kurtis and Lisa and the rest of your family. I know this must be so incredibly difficult. I am here for all of you if I can ever do anything....
Tom, Kurtis, Ryan and Lisa, I am so saddened to read this. Prayers are with you to get you through this. Annette was a beautiful wonderful person, and will truely be missed. If there is anything we can do for you, don't hesitate to ask. We are thinking of you!
I am so sorry that Annette, this most wonderful mom, wife, and sister is no longer on this earth with you and how sad you must feel. Know that we all love you and are here to help in any way, now and over the years. Thank you for sharing Annette with us, she is a treasure and will be so missed. All our love, Kris and Jennifer
Thank you for so generously sharing your precious Annette with us over the past several years.
The first time I met her in real life I was struck with how much I already knew her from our conversations online. She was such a true, honest person in every aspect of her life.
Thank you for sharing Annette with us. We are all so grateful to have had such an amazing, inspirational woman in our lives. She will be dearly missed. Please let us know if there is ever anything we can do. You are in our constant thoughts and prayers and we love you all. God Bless.
Words don't adequately express my sorrow. Tom, Kurtis, Ryan, and family, my thoughts and prayers go out for you right now. Know that heaven has gained a beautiful angel....
Tom, Kurtis, and Ryan...my deepest condolences are with you during this time of great loss. I know Annette fought a long and courageous battle with this awful disease and now she's not suffering with it anymore, but she'll be deeply missed back home. I wish I had the opportunity to have met Annette in person, but I'm thankful for he time I met her when I joined the T21 community 4 yrs ago. My prayers go out to you all during this difficult time. May you find peace and comfort in the days to come.
Tom & Family~ we love you all so much and surround you with love and prayers. Annette will be greatly missed by everyone who knew and loved her. Robert & Kei & the kids
Over the last few days, I have thought so much about you and your life. We all feel that it was woefully too short. Mostly, for your boys and for Tom, but selfishly , we feel we had way too little time with you.
Even more strongly were my thoughts of "You lived a well lived life!!!" What more could we ask our loved ones to say about us less than twelve hours after our passing? You loved passionately and were loved even more passionately. God gave you this life as a gift and you knew it. Job well done Annette.
You created a wonderful marriage with your love. You both created and nurtured two amazing sons. Tom will continue the work, and we will support him.
We will continue the good fight. We know you will be watching over us, cheering us on and waiting to greet us when we are done fighting the good fight. Please have a bottle of Chardonnay on ice and some of the great Canadian maple syrup you brought me. I have enjoyed it to the last drop as of this morning. (My strange little tribute to you, my friend. I just couldn't finish it, thinking I was somehow holding on to you. Strange, I know.) So, I let go of your earthly body and I celebrate your heavenly body that is free from pain. Free from doubt. Free from our earthly trials.
I celebrate you and your coming home through tears of grief and tears of joy.
I am so sorry that Annette did not have more time here on earth, but I know she is with God and that you will see her again someday. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Dear Tom, Kurtis, and Ryan, and all of Annette's family. I am so sorry to hear this news. Annette was an amazing woman. She kept us all on track during the 2005 CDSS conference planning and we, the conference committee, forged strong friendships that continued long after. I will miss her terribly. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
I am just sitting here with the tears streaming down my face and feeling helpless to express what is in my heart with words.
Annette, we all love you and we are thankful that your pain is over but we know how much your family will miss you. We will miss you.
Know that your family will always occupy a special place in my heart. Even though we never had the chance to meet in real life, I so appreciate our online community and the way that we got to know each other there. You are an amazing mother and person. I know your love for your family will never end and that they will feel your love forever.
Tom, Kurtis and Ryan...know that we are here for you for whatever you need.
Julie just called me this morning with the sad news. Please know that our prayers are with you during this difficult time. Annette will be sorely missed.
Tom, Kurtis, Ryan and extended family: I am saddened beyond words and I can't find the right words to express my sorrow. Annette is a beautiful soul and dear mother, wife, sister, daughter and friend. She will be missed greatly. May she rest in peace. Love, Shawn Jake and Kaitlyn
I had the honour and privilege to work with Annette at Manulife. She was a wonderful, caring person who loved her family more than anything. Every little triumph was celebrated with all of us. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of you. You have a wonderful angel in heaven now to take care of all of you. With love and profound sympathy Lisa MacColl
I am honored to call Annette friend. What an amazing, loving, honest soul. She showed me grace, faith and friendship, something I will cherish forever. I am so glad I got to hug her for a moment, got to sit and chat for a moment on Jan's deck and be moms and girlfriends together. The time was too short.
We are all surrounding you in love. I will miss her and will hold her in my heart.
To Tom, Kurtis,Ryan, Lisa, Steve, Sarah, Connor, and Mr. Bruinsma, We are so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. May God surround you with strength and courage. Love, Kim, Dennis, Sam, Leah and Nathan Teeuwsen (St. Catharines)
Tom, Kurtis, Ryan, Lisa, Steve, Sarah, Connor, and Gord, Our prayers are with you - we are so sorry for your huge loss - may you feel the Lord's nearness - Strength to you in this difficult time -- Let us know if there is anything we can do for you on the St. Catharines end Rachel Janecek and family
I am so sorry for your loss and my heart goes out to all of you. I will always remember Annette as the kindest, gentlest person I've ever met. God bless you.
Annette has been a gift that I will greatly miss. But I know that her goodness, her inspiration, her love and her faith will be felt for my lifetime. She was a wonderful support to me during some difficult times. I am thankful that I got to know Annette and for her help during the 2-3 years leading up to the 2005 CDSS Conference. It was a labour of love and a gift to all those touched by the gift of Down syndrome who were able to attend and I know it meant so much to Annette as it did to me. This one event brought together an amazing team of people who continue to share a strong bond. The theme of that conference was "Common Threads" and Annette will always be one of the "threads" that binds us together.
Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers during this very sad time. Love, Lorna
As I read the comments posted here (with tears streaming down my face) we know that Annette is greatly loved and will be greatly missed. I have struggled over what to write... only that I can take comfort in (and hope you can too)is that I'm positive that Annette is having a much better day than we all are. She is free of pain, is with her Mom and is basking in the light of Jesus.
I'm so sorry to hear that! I just found this blog today through the "Dream Big" blog, so I haven't been reading it until now... but I Can tell your wife touched many lives through her blog. I think one of the best things about blogs is that it allows people to become "real" in the eyes of others all over the world who will never even meet each other! Because of this blog, she was known and cared for by so many, and she will be remembered forever. Keep hope in your heart...
To Tom, Kurtis and Ryan and family: I am saddened to learn of Annette's passing today, but glad she is at peace now. She was such a dear soul, so loving and giving and so so proud of her family. I had the privelge of getting to know Annette when I was part of the organizing committee for the CDSS Conference, Common Threads, in May 2005 in Waterloo. So positive and fun she was! Such a wonderful gift she gave of herself to us all at that time, and the close ties continued on from there. Kurtis and Ryan you had a Super MOM! Tom, Lisa, Gord and family my thoughts and prayers are with you through this sad time. Let us all celebrate this beautiful person - Annette! Anne Yardley
Dear Tom, Kurtis and Ryan, and family, We are so sorry about Annette. Your wife and mom enlightened and inspired so many. She was always talking about you, loving you in everything she said and did. God used her so much and now she leaves a terrific legacy of enriched lives. In our hearts, she will live on forever. We pray God will keep you all in the palm of his hand and that your faith will comfort you until we all meet with Jesus, where there is no pain or sorrow. Lisa, Jeff, Arianne and Keenan
The world has just lost an amazing, beautiful and compassionate woman... may Tom, Kurtis and Ryan be embodied with the love of all of those who had the chance to know Annette. Godspeed, Annette.
Like so many others I was so saddened to read the post of Annette's passing this morning. The strength and courage she displayed was so powerful. My prayers are with Tom, Kurtis, Ryan and Lisa as you are faced with the difficult days that lie ahead. Our hearts are with you.
Dear Tom, Ryan, Kurtis and family, our thoughts and prayers will continue to uphold you. May you be so strengthened by those that surround you, and by our God who is so much bigger than we can ever imagine. With love, Yvonne Veldboom (VanHuizen) Beacon class of 84
I wish I knew the words...I wish I had words at all. My heart is breaking right now - for Tom, for Kurtis and Ryan, and for the whole world. We lost an amazing woman and a beautiful soul today. We were so lucky to be able to know her light, and though I wish it burned longer, it couldn't have been any brighter.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family during this emotional time. I only had the opportunity to meet Annette a few times through WRDSS but she made a big impact on me. We shared two things in common, one that we both have sons with an extra designer gene and secondly, that we were both battling cancer in 2006. Annette was a huge inspiration to me and my heart aches for her famly. She fought hard with strength and dignity and now she is finally at peace.
I am Marie DeBoer's daughter, who is Sadie VanderPloeg DeBoer's daughter, I am sorry for your loss, but gladdened by Annette's gain. She is free from pain and fear. She is in God's arms and so blessed to be there. There are so many who do not know the Lord who do not have such a wonderful place to go when they "move on" and I am glad she was able to tie up some loose ends (nanny) before she moved on. I don't know how often you check this... but I wish you all well. My Grandmother is very sad about this, not that her faith is weak, but that loss is loss, and I know you understand that. I am praying to the stars as they make me feel closer to God everynight even when cloudy, to say goodnight to Uncle Pete and the children and family I have lost. I will add Annette. I know that Winnie would want me to. I have told my children I am ready to go if God were to take me, and I am, but I would greatly miss seeing them grow and become successful adults. Today I turn 40, and I just want you to know your loss is in my heart as I approach this day knowing any day could be the beginning of my life in Heaven. I am glad you had a relaxing Christmas, sorry that it included the flu bugs that have been going around. I pray for the boys during day and pray that God unfolds a loving life for them in spite of this loss. My prayers are with you too as you struggle to continue here without her... Love Melissa Beverage from CA...
53 comments:
I am so sorry and saddened to read this. No words can capture the sorrow that will be felt by so many people that knew her. My heart breaks for you all and for all of us who will miss her so... My prayers are with you Tom, Ryan, Kurtis and Lisa and the rest of your family. I know this must be so incredibly difficult. I am here for all of you if I can ever do anything....
Love,
Lisa and Lily
To Tom and Family: Know we are here and love you all so much. Annette is such a beautiful soul and friend, we will miss her so.
Tom, Kurtis, Ryan and Lisa, I am so saddened to read this. Prayers are with you to get you through this. Annette was a beautiful wonderful person, and will truely be missed. If there is anything we can do for you, don't hesitate to ask. We are thinking of you!
Love, Christy and Olivia from Buffalo
I am so sorry for your loss. Annette was a wonderful woman, and she will be missed by so many.
We will be keeping you all in our prayers.
I am so sorry; I love you, Annette and will miss you.
Melissa
(Bill, Garrett, Thomas, Kaleigh & Braeden, too)
I am so sorry that Annette, this most wonderful mom, wife, and sister is no longer on this earth with you and how sad you must feel. Know that we all love you and are here to help in any way, now and over the years. Thank you for sharing Annette with us, she is a treasure and will be so missed.
All our love,
Kris and Jennifer
Tom, Kurtis and Ryan,
Thank you for so generously sharing your precious Annette with us over the past several years.
The first time I met her in real life I was struck with how much I already knew her from our conversations online. She was such a true, honest person in every aspect of her life.
Her radiance will forever affect my life.
Tom, please let us know whatever we can do.
Love you guys! Nicole, Joe and the girls
So sorry, so saddened by this enormous loss. You remain embraced in love, and we continue to join hands in constant prayer.
Lynn BF
We're very sad for your loss. Annette will be missed greatly. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of your family.
May you have peace and comfort in the coming days. There are just no words...only tears.
Tom,
We're so very, very sorry for your loss. If there's ANYTHING you need, day or night, big or small, just ask.
Love,
CHarmian and Andrew
Tom
We are so sorry to hear the news. Just know you and the boys are in our thoughts and are here if you need us.
Peace
Jeff
Tom, Curtis, Ryan, Lisa and family:
Thank you for sharing Annette with us. We are all so grateful to have had such an amazing, inspirational woman in our lives. She will be dearly missed. Please let us know if there is ever anything we can do. You are in our constant thoughts and prayers and we love you all. God Bless.
Lisa, Jim, Jamie and Cori
Tom,
I am so sad to read this last posting, my thoughts and prayers are with you and the boys.
If there is anything you need call anytime.
Gordon
Words don't adequately express my sorrow. Tom, Kurtis, Ryan, and family, my thoughts and prayers go out for you right now. Know that heaven has gained a beautiful angel....
Tom, Kurtis, and Ryan...my deepest condolences are with you during this time of great loss. I know Annette fought a long and courageous battle with this awful disease and now she's not suffering with it anymore, but she'll be deeply missed back home. I wish I had the opportunity to have met Annette in person, but I'm thankful for he time I met her when I joined the T21 community 4 yrs ago. My prayers go out to you all during this difficult time. May you find peace and comfort in the days to come.
I am so sorry! There is nothing more I can say. Much peace to your family and close friends during this time...
Renee (Johnny's mom from T21 boards)
I wish you all the best I din't get to meet her in person and read this blog but I know that she was a amazing mom.
Lots of hugs
az
May your memories of your dear Annette comfort you at this most difficult of times. We will miss her so much.
Debbie and Binny (T21)
Tom & Family~ we love you all so much and surround you with love and prayers. Annette will be greatly missed by everyone who knew and loved her.
Robert & Kei & the kids
God Bless you on your journey home.
Over the last few days, I have thought so much about you and your life. We all feel that it was woefully too short. Mostly, for your boys and for Tom, but selfishly , we feel we had way too little time with you.
Even more strongly were my thoughts of "You lived a well lived life!!!" What more could we ask our loved ones to say about us less than twelve hours after our passing? You loved passionately and were loved even more passionately. God gave you this life as a gift and you knew it. Job well done Annette.
You created a wonderful marriage with your love. You both created and nurtured two amazing sons. Tom will continue the work, and we will support him.
We will continue the good fight. We know you will be watching over us, cheering us on and waiting to greet us when we are done fighting the good fight. Please have a bottle of Chardonnay on ice and some of the great Canadian maple syrup you brought me. I have enjoyed it to the last drop as of this morning. (My strange little tribute to you, my friend. I just couldn't finish it, thinking I was somehow holding on to you. Strange, I know.) So, I let go of your earthly body and I celebrate your heavenly body that is free from pain. Free from doubt. Free from our earthly trials.
I celebrate you and your coming home through tears of grief and tears of joy.
Godspeed Annette.
Shannon
I am so sorry that Annette did not have more time here on earth, but I know she is with God and that you will see her again someday. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Dear Tom, Kurtis, and Ryan, and all of Annette's family. I am so sorry to hear this news. Annette was an amazing woman. She kept us all on track during the 2005 CDSS conference planning and we, the conference committee, forged strong friendships that continued long after. I will miss her terribly. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Clare
My thoughts and prayers are with you all. I am so sorry for your loss.
I am just sitting here with the tears streaming down my face and feeling helpless to express what is in my heart with words.
Annette, we all love you and we are thankful that your pain is over but we know how much your family will miss you. We will miss you.
Know that your family will always occupy a special place in my heart. Even though we never had the chance to meet in real life, I so appreciate our online community and the way that we got to know each other there. You are an amazing mother and person. I know your love for your family will never end and that they will feel your love forever.
Tom, Kurtis and Ryan...know that we are here for you for whatever you need.
God bless...
Andi
Dearest Tom, Curtis & Ryan and extended loving family~
Annette was one of the most glorious and radiant souls I have ever met. She was the embodiment of love and faith.
I am so deeply sorry for your loss.
Please know she will always shine brightly in our hearts.
All of our love,
Tara Marie & Emma Sage and family
Dear Tom, Kurtis, Ryan, Lisa and Gord,
Julie just called me this morning with the sad news. Please know that our prayers are with you during this difficult time. Annette will be sorely missed.
Love,
Donna, Pete, Niklas and Tessa
Tom, Kurtis, Ryan and extended family:
I am saddened beyond words and I can't find the right words to express my sorrow. Annette is a beautiful soul and dear mother, wife, sister, daughter and friend. She will be missed greatly. May she rest in peace.
Love,
Shawn Jake and Kaitlyn
I had the honour and privilege to work with Annette at Manulife. She was a wonderful, caring person who loved her family more than anything. Every little triumph was celebrated with all of us.
My thoughts and prayers go out to all of you. You have a wonderful angel in heaven now to take care of all of you.
With love and profound sympathy
Lisa MacColl
Dearest Tom, Kurtis, Ryan, Lisa and family,
I am honored to call Annette friend. What an amazing, loving, honest soul. She showed me grace, faith and friendship, something I will cherish forever. I am so glad I got to hug her for a moment, got to sit and chat for a moment on Jan's deck and be moms and girlfriends together. The time was too short.
We are all surrounding you in love. I will miss her and will hold her in my heart.
To Tom, Kurtis,Ryan, Lisa, Steve, Sarah, Connor, and Mr. Bruinsma,
We are so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. May God surround you with strength and courage.
Love,
Kim, Dennis, Sam, Leah and Nathan Teeuwsen (St. Catharines)
much love to all of you.
love.love.love.
Miss E and Rebecca
Dear Tom, Kurtis and Ryan,
I am so sorry. May the spirit of Annette always be with you.
You are in our prayers.
Love,
Stephanie and Katie
Tom, Kurtis, Ryan, Lisa, Steve, Sarah, Connor, and Gord,
Our prayers are with you - we are so sorry for your huge loss - may you feel the Lord's nearness - Strength to you in this difficult time -- Let us know if there is anything we can do for you on the St. Catharines end
Rachel Janecek and family
I'm so sorry for your loss.
Barb Adamski
Dear Tom and boys, You are in my thoughts and prayers at this diffucult time. I'm so glad I got the privelege to meet Annette and you in Indy.
Cris, Max's mom from T21 board
I am so sorry for your loss and my heart goes out to all of you. I will always remember Annette as the kindest, gentlest person I've ever met. God bless you.
Love Simmin
To all of Annette's family,
Annette has been a gift that I will greatly miss. But I know that her goodness, her inspiration, her love and her faith will be felt for my lifetime. She was a wonderful support to me during some difficult times. I am thankful that I got to know Annette and for her help during the 2-3 years leading up to the 2005 CDSS Conference. It was a labour of love and a gift to all those touched by the gift of Down syndrome who were able to attend and I know it meant so much to Annette as it did to me. This one event brought together an amazing team of people who continue to share a strong bond. The theme of that conference was "Common Threads" and Annette will always be one of the "threads" that binds us together.
Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers during this very sad time.
Love, Lorna
My heart breaks for your loss. May peace be with you during this difficult time. Many prayers for comfort coming your way.
God be with you until you meet again.
Pam and Rhett
Tom & boys, Gord, Lisa and family:
As I read the comments posted here (with tears streaming down my face) we know that Annette is greatly loved and will be greatly missed. I have struggled over what to write... only that I can take comfort in (and hope you can too)is that I'm positive that Annette is having a much better day than we all are. She is free of pain, is with her Mom and is basking in the light of Jesus.
If you need anything....
Michelle & Sid and crew
I'm so sorry to hear that! I just found this blog today through the "Dream Big" blog, so I haven't been reading it until now... but I Can tell your wife touched many lives through her blog. I think one of the best things about blogs is that it allows people to become "real" in the eyes of others all over the world who will never even meet each other! Because of this blog, she was known and cared for by so many, and she will be remembered forever.
Keep hope in your heart...
To Tom, Kurtis and Ryan and family: I am saddened to learn of Annette's passing today, but glad she is at peace now. She was such a dear soul, so loving and giving and so so proud of her family. I had the privelge of getting to know Annette when I was part of the organizing committee for the CDSS Conference, Common Threads, in May 2005 in Waterloo. So positive and fun she was! Such a wonderful gift she gave of herself to us all at that time, and the close ties continued on from there. Kurtis and Ryan you had a Super MOM! Tom, Lisa, Gord and family my thoughts and prayers are with you through this sad time. Let us all celebrate this beautiful person - Annette!
Anne Yardley
May you rest in eternal peace!
My condolences to the family.
Dear Tom, Kurtis and Ryan, and family,
We are so sorry about Annette.
Your wife and mom enlightened and inspired so many. She was always talking about you, loving you in everything she said and did. God used her so much and now she leaves a terrific legacy of enriched lives. In our hearts, she will live on forever. We pray God will keep you all in the palm of his hand and that your faith will comfort you until we all meet with Jesus, where there is no pain or sorrow.
Lisa, Jeff, Arianne and Keenan
I am so sorry for your loss. YOu will be kept in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.
Sara, Mike & Nathaniel
The world has just lost an amazing, beautiful and compassionate woman... may Tom, Kurtis and Ryan be embodied with the love of all of those who had the chance to know Annette. Godspeed, Annette.
Like so many others I was so saddened to read the post of Annette's passing this morning. The strength and courage she displayed was so powerful. My prayers are with Tom, Kurtis, Ryan and Lisa as you are faced with the difficult days that lie ahead. Our hearts are with you.
Michelle, Matthew and Family (T21)
Dear Tom, Ryan, Kurtis and family,
our thoughts and prayers will continue to uphold you. May you be so strengthened by those that surround you, and by our God who is so much bigger than we can ever imagine.
With love, Yvonne Veldboom (VanHuizen) Beacon class of 84
I wish I knew the words...I wish I had words at all. My heart is breaking right now - for Tom, for Kurtis and Ryan, and for the whole world. We lost an amazing woman and a beautiful soul today. We were so lucky to be able to know her light, and though I wish it burned longer, it couldn't have been any brighter.
Much love to all of you,
Emily
I am so sorry!
Christina and Vincent
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family during this emotional time.
I only had the opportunity to meet Annette a few times through WRDSS but she made a big impact on me.
We shared two things in common, one that we both have sons with an extra designer gene and secondly, that we were both battling cancer in 2006. Annette was a huge inspiration to me and my heart aches for her famly. She fought hard with strength and dignity and now she is finally at peace.
God Bless you all,
Arisa, Steve and Michael (2, DS)
Lisa, Tom, and family,
I am Marie DeBoer's daughter, who is Sadie VanderPloeg DeBoer's daughter, I am sorry for your loss, but gladdened by Annette's gain. She is free from pain and fear. She is in God's arms and so blessed to be there. There are so many who do not know the Lord who do not have such a wonderful place to go when they "move on" and I am glad she was able to tie up some loose ends (nanny) before she moved on. I don't know how often you check this... but I wish you all well. My Grandmother is very sad about this, not that her faith is weak, but that loss is loss, and I know you understand that. I am praying to the stars as they make me feel closer to God everynight even when cloudy, to say goodnight to Uncle Pete and the children and family I have lost. I will add Annette. I know that Winnie would want me to. I have told my children I am ready to go if God were to take me, and I am, but I would greatly miss seeing them grow and become successful adults. Today I turn 40, and I just want you to know your loss is in my heart as I approach this day knowing any day could be the beginning of my life in Heaven.
I am glad you had a relaxing Christmas, sorry that it included the flu bugs that have been going around. I pray for the boys during day and pray that God unfolds a loving life for them in spite of this loss. My prayers are with you too as you struggle to continue here without her... Love Melissa Beverage from CA...
Post a Comment