Obituary of Wilhelmina Hengeveld

Wilhelmina Martina Hengeveld (nee Davidse) of Newmarket, Ontario peacefully went home to be with her Lord on March 31, 2020, at Southlake Regional Health Centre. Willa was 85 years old, and a long-time and much-loved resident at Hamilton Place Seniors’ Apartments. Predeceased by her loving husband, Herman G. Hengeveld. Loving mother of Diana (Henry de Jong) and Susan (Stephen Bowyer). Cherished grandmother of Amy McIsaac, Aaron Bowyer (Daniella), Sharon (John Mitchell), Rebekah (Adam Smith), Jacqueline (Mark Vaxevanis) and Sarah (Joshua Murphy). Proud great-grandmother of Jordan, Jayden, Orion, Isabelle, Aurora, Jacob, Elijah, Emilio, and Asher with baby boy Vaxevanis on the way. Willa will be deeply missed by her brother John (Dianne), her sisters Marry, Ella (Jan), Christine (Bob), Johanna (Eric) and Corrie (Howard), and her many nieces and nephews and their families. Predeceased by her sisters Tanny and Coba.Willa was born in Middelburg, The Netherlands on March 19, 1935, the first of nine children born to Cornelis and Jacomina Davidse. She had a happy childhood, but there were tough times as well during the war years. Wilhelmina left school when she was still young, in order to help her mother at home with the younger children. In 1953, when Willa was 18 years old, she immigrated by ship with her family to Canada. The family eventually settled in Bradford. Willa got a job at the Tobias factory in Aurora where she worked as a seamstress. A few years later, she met the love of her life, Herman Hengeveld, and the two were married on February 16, 1957. They worked hard and saved over the next couple of years and were able to buy a building lot and fulfill their dream of building their own home. They welcomed their two daughters, Diana and Susan into their family. While raising her family, Willa also took in daycare children, and later, Herman and Willa became foster parents.Willa was a devoted grandmother and great-grandmother. She loved to spend time with them, feed them home-baked treats and play games with them. Willa was a very strong woman who bravely fought cancer for the last five years of her life. She always took the time to care for her family and friends, and put her full trust in the Lord regardless of her circumstances.A Celebration of Life service will be held at a later date. Donations in memory of Wilhelmina may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or Jabez Blanket Ministry (www.jabezblanketministry.org).