Jan Jansma

— 63, Halifax, passed away March 4, 2010, in the QEII Health Sciences Centre, 7A Centennial. Born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, he came to Canada at the age of seven, with his parents and sister, on the steamship, Waterman, landing at Pier 21. He grew up in Hubbards, enjoying hockey as a goaltender. He also enjoyed fishing and hunting and often spoke of trips back to Pitch Pine with his buddies. Jan met his wife while working for Simpson-Sears. After beginning a family and studying Biochemistry at St. Mary's University, a management career with Sears took him and his family from Halifax to Yarmouth, (25 years), Toronto, Ont., and Corner Brook, N.L., before he settled on a sales career with various companies in office supplies, ambulances and eventually durable health care equipment. Many of Jan's clients in South Western Nova Scotia will remember him for his compassion and hard work in helping them achieve their health care needs while working for Harding Medical. While his children were growing up, he was very active in his community and church. Most recently, he was semi-retired but happily occupied with sharing his vast experience and knowledge in developing advertising and industrial enterprises with friends. Jan is survived by his wife, Lynn (Benvie) and children, Heather and Steven as well as his sister, Geraldine (George) Zwaagstra. He gained six sisters and eventually six brothers-in-law when he married his wife. He was predeceased by his parents, Ebeltje (Van der Laan) and Freerk Jansma. He has many nieces, nephews and cousins in Canada, Netherlands and Australia. Visitation will take place in J. A. Snow Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Dr., Halifax on Sunday, March 7th from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. The Funeral will take place in St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Oxford Street, Halifax Monday, March 8th at 10 a.m., with reception to follow in the church hall. Burial will take place in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Lower Sackville. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Canadian Cancer Society for Metastatic Cancer Research or The QEII Foundation for the Palliative Care Unit.