Passed away with family present on March 13, 2025 at Brampton Civic Hospital (Brampton, Ontario, Canada) in her 94th year.  Born in Oudega-W, Friesland, The Netherlands.  Pre-deceased by her loving husband of 57 years, Feike Velsen.  Beloved mother of Paulette (Daniel), Albert and Coralena. Beloved Oma of Alexander and Marc.  Survived by sisters-in-law Jenke Walinga and Anna Kroes and their families and many beloved nieces and nephews in Canada and The Netherlands.  She is predeceased by her parents Rein Walinga and Cornelia Walinga (nee Muurling), sisters (in-law) and brothers (in-law) Lipkje, Jan (Sjoerdtje), Johannes (Joukje), Dirk (Wieke), Pieter, Hiltje (Wieger), Corneliske (Rits), Hieltje, Afke (Coos) and Nanne Kroes.

Nancy came to Canada from the Netherlands in May,1958 on the ship, "The Waterman".  On that ship, she met Feike, her future husband. She decided to stay and make a new life in Canada.

She enjoyed caring for people as a Health Care Aide, first at Huron County Home in Clinton, Ontario and later at Extendicare Nursing Home in Oakville, Ontario for many years.

Family was everything to her. She was the youngest of eleven children. Supporting her husband and their own three children's active lives kept her busy.  Nancy and her husband eagerly watched and supported Coralena's  running races, Albert's soccer games and Paulette's swimming lessons and the many other sports and activities that the family was involved in.

Camping in a tent trailer across Ontario and Western Canada, even when it was not something she really liked, she did anyway because she knew her family loved it.

Despite having limited educational opportunities growing up, she always stressed the importance of education to her children and watched with pride as all her children completed university.

She loved spending time with her two grandsons, Alexander and Marc, watching their baseball and hockey games, attending their graduations and having them over to visit.

She loved to keep her hands busy doing crafty things.  Making Christmas costumes for a Christmas concert, stitchwork (Bunka), sewing on her sewing machine, knitting sweaters even if they turned out a little crooked - she didn't seem to mind.

The fruit and vegetable crop in the garden, Feike's 'farm', was a bonanza.  Having grown up as a child in Second World War Friesland, she just couldn't let anything go to waste.  She would use the apples to make applesauce, apple pies, use the applesauce in the muffins, freeze the peaches and pears, make pumpkin pies, use the kale for boerenkool, and serve the raspberries, strawberries and currants for dessert. When Beppe, Tante Lip and Tante Annie came from the Netherlands to visit, they would help out too, peeling bushels of fresh-off-the-tree peaches, pears and apples.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to all staff at Holland Christian Homes in Brampton, Ontario - especially those at Faith Manor - because with the laughter, you made it feel like home. Thanks also to the physiotherapy team at HCH for helping Nancy maintain her mobility.

Nancy also developed a close relationship with her many private duty PSW's; Gagan, Arshdeep, Sandeep and many more from ELCARE Health Services. A special mention of gratitude goes to you too for your loving care and companionship over these last few years.

Visitation will be held on Monday, March 24, 2025 at the Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home, 64 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville (one block East of Kerr Street) from 10am – 11 am.  Funeral service to follow in the chapel at 11 am.  Burial will take place at Trafalgar Lawn Cemetery, 1149 Dundas Street West, Oakville.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy can be made by making a donation to those in need via The Salvation Army.