Funeral Mass:

Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at 11:00 AM

Good Shepherd Church

2250 150 St, Surrey, BC V4A 9J3

Reception:

Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at 12:00 PM

Good Shepherd Church Hall

2250 150 St, Surrey, BC V4A 9J3

Burial:

Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at 2:30 PM

Gardens of Gethsemani Catholic Cemetery

15694 32 Ave, Surrey, BC V3Z 9V1

Obituary:

It is with much sadness to announce the passing of Elsa, a Mom, Grandmother (Oma) and Great Grandmother. Oma was predeceased by her husband of 61 years, Marinus (Bill) in 2012.

She will be greatly missed by her four children; Louise(Brad), Susan, Philip(Mignon) and Gerry (Cheryl); seven grandchildren, Amanda Palmer and Luc (Jenny) Palmer, Elise (Goksu)Erbalaban, Jacqueline de Leeuw, Kira de Leeuw, Nathalie de Leeuw and Conner de Leeuw and six great grandchildren, Ember and Gray (Amanda) Poppy and Fox (Luc) Nova and Louie (Elise).

Elsa was born in Halsteren, The Netherlands, one of seven children. She immigrated with Marinus to Canada in 1951 and settled in Calgary, Alberta. She also lived in Nanaimo, BC, Ottawa, Ont. and South Surrey, BC.

She was an avid swimmer and taught many children to swim for many years at the Ottawa YMCA and Nepean City pools. She also enjoyed competitive swimming in her later years and won many medals at the provincial and national levels setting numerous provincial, national and world records.

As quoted in the Peace Arch news in April of 2017:

“One of the Semiahmoo Peninsula’s most accomplished athletes of the last two decades has been enshrined in Masters Swimming Canada’s Hall of Excellence.

South Surrey’s Elsa De Leeuw, 92, was chosen earlier this month as the 2017 female recipient of the award which, according to the official criteria, honours those who have “demonstrated consistent and outstanding results at the highest levels of competition in Masters Swimming.”

More specifically, in order to be nominated for the hall, swimmers must have excelled in a minimum of three age groups, “have solid performances at the national and international levels” and demonstrate good sportsmanship.”

The article goes on to say:

For De Leeuw, who has been a member of the White Rock Wave masters swim club since 2000, the honour is well-earned, according to Wave head coach Carole Gair. After all, the senior swimmer has collected dozens of gold medals through the years, and has at times owned more than 20 Canadian masters records.

“Her records – her Canadian records – started in about 2003 or 2004, so not too long after she started swimming with us,” Gair told Peace Arch News. “She still has about nine of them.”

As well, Gair points out that the media-shy De Leeuw – who, through Gair, has always shunned the limelight over the past decade-plus – is still among the top all-time masters swimmers.”

Elsa loved to bake. She contributed her famous lemon squares to the Good Shepherd’s women’s auxiliary program. As well she was a devout parishioner. The family wish to thank Elaine Webb, Toni Van Koll, and Father Francis for keeping her connected to her church when she could no longer attend mass.

Oma adored her grand children and then great grand children. One of Oma’s greatest joys was singing Dutch nursery songs to them and all children who visited her home.

Dog walkers in the neighborhood will recall her delight in greeting and petting their dogs on her walks.

The family wish to thank the staff at Westminster House for their professional, thoughtful and kind care of Elsa

To everyone who knew her Elsa will be dearly missed.

A Funeral Mass will be held on  July 26, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Good Shepherd Church, 2250 150 St. Surrey BC. Reception to follow at the church.