Maria (Mary) Gerarda Van Aert

Maria Gerarda Van Aert (nee Verbong)

February 24, 1937 - April 16, 2018

Mom was the fifth of seven children born to Jacobus Wilhelmus and Gertruda Maria Gerarda in Grubbenvorst, The Netherlands.  In 1948 she suffered an attack of acute appendicitis.  It was so serious that she almost died.  After she recovered she was treated like a delicate flower by her family and the townspeople considered her too tender to marry and have children. 

She and most of her family immigrated to Canada in 1952 where she met Jack Van Aert.  In Canada she became known as Mary or Mia.  Jack and Mary moved from Winnipeg to Red Lake, Ontario after they married in 1955.  There she gave birth to four children Maria (Marianne), James (Jim), William (Bill), and Richard (Rick). 

These were difficult years coming to Canada without knowing English, living in a remote community without water or sewer with four children.  In 1958 they discovered that their daughter was born with a dislocated hip that required travel to Winnipeg for medical treatment.  

In 1964 the family moved their house trailer to East Selkirk to George Van Aert's farm while waiting for their house to be completed in Selkirk.  In Selkirk Mom found her calling and became the perpetual mother. She worked at jobs cleaning but will be remembered for the times when she took in and cared for other people's children.  Growing up we often had extra children living in our house.  Years later she took in and nurtured her grandson Christopher.  

The delicate flower had become a strong independent woman and a lovely lady.

Mary is also survived by her son-in-law Ernie, daughters-in-law Avril and Sherri. Grandchildren Christopher (Destiny), Nigel, Dana, Claire, Sara, Serena, Isaac; great grandchildren Ariana and Zachary.  Love you Oma!

"Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love." Mother Theresa

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 24, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. with viewing one hour prior to in the Gilbart Funeral Chapel, Selkirk, Manitoba with Fr. Stan Gacek officiating.

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