Obituary of Wynanda Geertje Thompson
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Thompson, Wynanda “Nan” Geertje
The passing of Wynanda “Nan” Geertje Thompson of Fredericton, NB, happened on April 7th, 2024 at Windsor Court Retirement Residence. Born on January 12th, 1927 in Naarden-Bussum, Holland, Netherlands, she was the daughter of the late Mien (née Balder) and Willem Sloothaak, sister of Marian (Jan) Soet, and wife of the late William Burkley Thompson.
Wynanda is survived by daughters, Pam Parks-Donelan (Pat) of Fredericton, Marjorie Zimmerman (John) of Fredericton, and Debbie Thompson; grandchildren, Tony Parks (the late Janet), Steven Parks, Melissa Zimmerman, Michael Zimmerman, Sophia Thompson (Avery), Randy O'Neil; great-grandchildren, Gregory (Michelle), Andrew, Taylor, and Violet; niece, Linda Soet; nephew Arjen Soet, and several cousins.
To those who knew her, she found peace at 2:07pm on April 7th, 2024 surrounded by friends with jazz music playing in the background. Nan grew up with a loving and caring family and developed an appetite for knowledge, music, and friendship at an early age. The War years were a tragic and challenging time for her as a thirteen year old, and had a profound impact on her later life. After the war ended, she met her husband who was a liberator with Fredericton’s 7th Anti-Tank Unit, and was married at City Hall in her hometown in 1945. She later emigrated to Canada and arrived on the Queen Mary in Halifax in August of 1946. Once landing in Canada, she was met with the raw rural realities of Canadian life in the 1940s, far different from what she was accustomed to in Holland prior to the War. She always remarked that she “came to the woods”.
In Fredericton, Nan started to build her new life in Canada, raising her three daughters while working many different jobs to help provide for her children. Amongst the many jobs she had throughout her life, she was a secretary and bookkeeper for Dr. Good and later Dr. Myers for over 20 years, learning bookkeeping from an accountant in one weekend in order to take the job. Her life would take another change when she met the Fairbairn’s in 1995, and from that time to the present she was grateful to be part of that family which brought her happiness until the end. Nan loved good music, conversation, and arguments all with the same intensity. She did and loved things passionately. In her last days, Nan spoke and reminisced over the love she had for her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She always felt that someone should be thirsty for knowledge and strive to be informed. Her friendships were the most important thing to her, and the friends she had were lucky to have someone who cared deeply for them. In her last few years, she was thankful for the care she received at home from Kindred Homecare, and from Amanda and Hannah who helped with her transition to St. Anne’s Court and later Windsor Court. She was also thankful for the help she received from the nurse and care staff at Windsor Court.
There will be no services by Wynanda’s request. For those who wish, donations may be made to the Fredericton Food Bank, the Homeless Shelter, or Bibles for Mission Fredericton. Personal condolences may be offered through www.yorkfh.com.
