Christina (Tini) VanderWindt (née VanderHout) on May 5, 2024. She will be missed by her two sons Jean-Paul and Walter, daughter-in-law Jennifer, grandchildren Ash, Jaden, and April, her sisters and brother, nieces and nephews, and friends in Holland, England, and Canada.
Cremation has taken place in solitude. To honour Tini’s memory, donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada are preferred.
Christina was born at the end of 1948 in post-war ‘s-Gravenzande, The Netherlands, and had a relatively normal childhood in her hometown, meeting her future husband Wim in 1966 and It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of amazing mother and Oma eventually marrying two years later. Their early years were spent travelling to exotic ‘behind the iron-curtain’ countries such as Romania and Yugoslavia, and once two bouncing boys arrived, on family vacations to Spain, Italy, and Austria. In the winter she took her boys skating on the canals and ponds in Holland, and in the summer, she spent most her time with her sons on the beaches of the North Sea. In 1984, the family migrated to Canada, settling in St. Catharines, Ontario. This was not an easy transition to make, and she greatly missed her extensive network of friends and family. She fortunately was able to visit ‘home’ on an almost yearly basis through Wim’s work-trips, but as time moved on, Canada slowly became her new home, and she made wonderful new friends that were in her life until the end. Throughout the late 80’s and early 90’s, the home on Cayuga Avenue served as host to several Dutch families migrating to Canada, and the parties she and Wim hosted there well into the 2010’s were always well-attended by a large group of Dutch expat friends and the highlight on the party calendar. Her two boys eventually grew up and left the nest (multiple times), and as time moved on this resulted in three grandchildren that she adored. After one more trip to Holland in 2018, and the passing of Wim in 2021, life slowed down considerably but she kept herself busy and was never bored. Without warning, she suffered a major stroke on March 25th, but her strength to hold on gave her family and friends a 6-week extension to appreciate her and say goodbye as she continued to be a stoic example, never complaining, being calm, kind, and considerate in a difficult time. Thankfully, she was able to spend the last few days at home in the comfort of her own surroundings, with loved ones by her side. She was 75.
The family would like to acknowledge the support of friends and family, not only of our mother but us (Walter and Jean-Paul) during the six difficult weeks that followed her stroke; we could not have made it through without your support. Thank you. In honouring Christina’s wishes cremation has taken place. Memorial donations to Heart and Stroke Foundation would be appreciated. Arrangements entrusted to Considerate Cremation & Burial Services, 26 Nihan Drive, St. Catharines (between Lake Street & Scott Street), 289-362-1144. Online condolences may be made at CCBSCares.ca
