Maria Aleida petronella De rijk

It is with broken hearts that we announce the passing of Maria Aleida Petronella Deryk in her 96th year on Friday, April 1, 2022 at Mount Hope Long Term Care.

Dearly loved mother and mother-in-law of Yvonne and Sam Circelli and Hans and Karen Deryk. Dearly loved and adored Oma of Michelle Woods, Amanda Circelli, Christopher and Julie Circelli, Ryan Deryk and Cameron Deryk. Loved and adored Great Oma of Matteo and Violet.

Dear sister and sister-in-law of Louis and Diny Bouman. Dear sister-in-law of Miep Janssen, Wilma and Piet Aben, Corrie de Rijk all of the Netherlands. Greatly loved by many nieces and nephews in the Netherlands, Canada and the U.S. Predeceased by her husband Wilhelmus "Bill" de Rijk (2014), her parents Wilhelmus and Johanna Bouman, her brothers and sisters-in-law Henk Bouman, Gerard and Ans Bouman, Wim and Co Bouman, Jan and Annie Bouman and Theo Bouman, her sisters and brothers-in-law Dora and Theo Voets, Johanna and Charles Thielen, her brothers-in-law Tiny Janssen, Jan de Rijk, her brother-in-law and sister-in-law Toon and Diny de Rijk, her sister-in-law Betsie de Rijk.



Maria was eight days short of celebrating 60 years of immigrating to Canada. She, her husband and their young family arrived April 9, 1962. Maria and her husband worked hard in those early years where she cleaned homes five days a week. In 1970 Maria got her dream job, working at Dewaal's Jewellers and Import, a popular Dutch store in London at the time. Maria loved everything about the store from stocking shelves, slicing meat, operating the cash register, washing the store windows, talking to her fellow compatriots - she considered it her connection to her homeland.

She retired from Dewaal's many years later and went on to enjoy 30 years of retirement. Always wanting to keep up with the times, Maria at age 82 took a computer class and got her first computer to email and Skype allowing her to communicate with her relatives in Holland. At 94 she got an iPad and used it to Facetime.

Our Mom/Mother-in-law/Oma/Great Oma was loved dearly by all. Always in her signature colour of purple, she was a kind, loving and compassionate soul, possessing a positive attitude and so independent and strong in her later years. As her 7 year-old great-grandson said "she will forever be missed". Truer words have never been spoken. WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU OMA!

Visitors will be received in the O'Neil Funeral Home, 350 William Street, London, on Friday, April 8, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the Funeral Service in the Chapel at 11:00 a.m.

At the request of the family all visitors are pleased asked to wear a mask.

Entombment to follow in St. Peter's Cemetery, London.

Our family would like to thank the staff at Mount Hope, St. Mary's second floor, for the excellent and compassionate care of Maria for the past year and half.


Those wishing to make a donation in memory of Maria are asked to consider the Diabetes Association. www.diabetes.ca

Online condolences & Guest Book at www.oneilfuneralhome.ca

Family and friends are invited to watch the live streaming of the
visitation and service which will start at 9:15 a.m at:
https://www.twitch.tv/ofh_london