Theresa Mary Sommerdyk

Obituary of Theresa Sommerdyk 1937-2024

Theresia Maria Sommerdyk, nee van den Berg, passed away on 13 January 2024 at Hilltop Manor, Cambridge Ontario. She is reunited with her husband William (1982).

Mother of Tony (Jean), Jim (Susan), Thea, and Elizabeth (Scott).

Oma to Jennifer, Stacey (Joel), Christina (Graham), Erik, Matthew (Ramona), Sean (Melinda), Clinton (Graham), Frasier, and Graham.

Great grandmother to Kyle, Leif and Claire.

Survived by her sister Annie and her brother Ted. Predeceased by Jacoba, Chris, Matthew, Christina, Tony, Dora, Bert, Joe, Jack, Maria and Thea. She was a favoured aunt to many nieces and nephews.

Theresa was born in the Netherlands. The family came to Canada in 1949, preceded by her eldest sister Jacoba and husband. Theresa arrived in Canada on her twelfth birthday; the family settled in Aylmer Quebec.

William (usually known as Wim, Willem or Bill) came to Canada in 1952, to work on Jacoba’s farm. Theresa and Bill were married in 1956, and lived in Ottawa, then Windsor, London and area, Parkhill and Ridgetown.

Mom was an accomplished dressmaker; not only making clothes for the family, she also took on custom work for extra income. From this income, she bought a bike for the boys, who could then ride into town to do errands. She once made dress coats for the boys from an old coat of her father’s. A Christmas photo shows the boys in custom suits. Boys being boys, they were unappreciative of her skills. But the girls did appreciate her work, and they also became skilled seamstresses.

Theresa had many other jobs through the years, but it came full circle when she worked at Fabricland.

Her knitting rivaled her sewing and blossomed with the arrival of grandchildren. She loved the babies. Baby sets, “Kitty” hats, blankets and mitt sets were in abundance. Plus another custom boy’s suit.

Special thanks to the staff at Hilltop Manor for their splendid care.