Dina Jacoba Kwakernaak
May 29, 1923 – March 2, 2022
Dina Jacoba Kwakernaak (van den Berge); exceptional Mother, Oma (grandmother), Oma D (our title for Great-Grandmother), and amazing friend, passed away March 2nd nearing her 99th birthday. Born in Middelburg, the Netherlands on May 29, 1923, to Johanna and Jeremias van den Berge she married Cornelis Kwakernaak on May 31, 1950, in Soest the Netherlands. On November 21, 1953, they arrived in Canada with their first 2 children. They made their home in the Middleton area where Mom lived until moving to New Beginnings in Yarmouth in 2008. Dina learned a new language quickly, became a citizen of Canada on March 8, 1960, became active in her community, supported her husband in his gardening and nursery enterprise, brought up seven children, developed amazing skills as a baker, gardener, and sewer and was known for her incredible skills as a knitter. Mom embraced her community and loved her new home, Canada.
Dina was an outstanding loving mother to her seven children; Gretha (Bob) Newell, Johanna (Bert Deyell – deceased), Corry (Alton) Downie, Harry (Bev), Jacqueline (Richard) Melvin, John, and Jerry (Pam), adored Oma to 17 grandchildren and 5 step-grandchildren, Oma D to 31 great-grandchildren, and a loved friend to Barb MacDonald and Verna Goodwin. She loved all of us unconditionally.
Dina's greatest contribution was her ability as a teacher and mentor. She taught all of us to live life fully, to face life's many challenges with strength and grace, to have abiding faith, and to be responsible, caring, and giving members of our communities.
As well, Dina gave back to her community, joining the Ladies Auxiliaries at both the Middleton United Baptist Church and later the St. John United Church, and the Nictaux Soldiers Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. While not a member, every year she supported the I.O.D.E. Rummage Sale as a volunteer worker, and became an adopted, active member of the local War Bride's Group.
Dina contributed with her talents, particularly as a baker and a knitter. Her bread was sought out at every bake sale fund raiser and her knitted doll clothes, hats, mittens, sweaters, and baby outfits have warmed many: countless baby caps were donated to Valley Regional Hospital (Kentville) and Yarmouth Regional Hospital, hats and mittens to the Salvation Army, the Plymouth School Free Store, and grand children and great grand children, and beautiful baby outfits and amazing doll clothes to friends, family and charities. In later years friends were the recipients of beautiful dishcloths which she continued to make until her death.
Her love, her humour, her strength and her generous spirit will stay with us forever.
The family wishes to thank all of those who gave support so generously over the past few months. Especially the staff at New Beginning, Mom's friends at New Beginnings, the Palliative Care Team, Yarmouth VON, Home Care, EHS and Mom's Church family at New Heights Baptist Church, especially Pastor Craig Minard. You all made Mom's final days comfortable. Donations In Dina Kwakernaak's Memory can be made to Yarmouth Branch VON and New Heights Baptist Church.
Visitation will be Sunday, March 6, 2022, from 6-8 p.m. in the Sweeny’s Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral Service will be Monday, March 7,2022 at 2p.m., Rev. Craig Minard officiating. Interment will be Tuesday , March 8,2022 at 11 a.m. in the Pine Grove Cemetery, Middleton. A live stream of the Funeral Service will be on the Sweeny’s Funeral Home Website. Interment to take place at the Pine Grove Cemetery, Middleton. Online condolences may be sent to sweenys@sweenysfuneralhome.net; you may sign the guestbook online at www.sweenysfuneralhome.net