Born in Eindhoven, Netherlands. Predeceased by parents: Niesje van der Starre and Louis de Klerk; brothers Dingenis (Dies) de Klerk and Louis (Wiet) de Klerk; and husband Louis Derek (Joe) Emery. Survived by sisters Elsje de Klerk and Greetje de Klerk; children Jo-Anne Emery (Lorin Levac) and Glen Emery; plus nieces and nephews in Netherlands.
Ans was always humble yet proud of her parents for providing safe harbour in the family home for 12 Jewish people during WWII – all who survived and thrived.
After the war, Ans immigrated to Canada with two friends. She started work as a nanny in Toronto but couldn’t boil an egg so she didn’t last long! They all moved to the West Coast as it was known to feel more like Holland. In downtown Vancouver she got a job at Canada Trust because she was good with figures. Responding to an ad in the newspaper, she found a room to rent in an apartment — where she met lifelong friends Georgie, Del and Joanne.
With a group of friends, she spent time at the Seymour ski club where she met another non-skier who she later married. Ans and Joe held their wedding reception (party!) on the beach in Dundarave in front of the waterfront house they rented. The “ski crowd” also became lifelong friends.
Over the years, they had two kids and moved often living in West Vancouver, Prince George, Kitimat, Burnaby, Prince Rupert, Hinton, and overseas in Ruzomberok, Czechoslovakia and made many great friends along the way.
After Joe passed away, Ans downsized and moved into a beautiful condo in New Westminster. She found a wonderful community of fun and caring people. Patricia, Charmaine, Fran and Doreen plus many other neighbours became great friends. Her garden patio became party-central for birthdays and any other reason they could think of to share fancy cocktails and appies. In her final year, this wonderful community provided Ans with support and care – and continued to make her laugh.
Ans liked having a job and worked in clerical desk jobs until her mid-40s then switched to retail working in the fabric/craft department until she was 72 years old! She was very skilled at sewing and knitting as well as restoring/refinishing antique and Canadiana furniture; and she loved reading, decorating, gardening, and writing fun poems for birthdays and other special occasions.
Ans will be missed by all of us in her wide circle of friends and family. A celebration of life is not scheduled at this time, but plans are underway.