Fred van der Molen

Dad’s life journey began on February 28, 1930. He was born and spent his entire childhood in the small village of Oranjewoud, The Netherlands living during the occupation of the war years. He met and married our mother Frances in 1954 and like so many of their countrymen began to think about emigration in search of brighter opportunities. During post war reconstruction the Dutch government initiated a program offering potential emigrants a small stipend to help with re-location. Dad however enjoyed having his children believe they were bribed to leave the country. Mom and Dad’s honeymoon in 1954 was spent enroute to Canada where they settled in Transcona and began raising a family. There our parents life revolved around children, friends, and theTranscona Christian Reformed church. Dad spent all his working career with Canada Safeway, most of it as the Produce Manager at the Regent Park Shopping Centre.

Our parents enjoyed their church’s fellowship, getting together with friends for a game of cards and after retirement, travelling. Their journey took them home to Holland, Hawaii, and the American South. Several years after our mother’s death in December 1999, Dad moved into a senior’s condo at the same time as his sister Jessie and brother-in-law Andy and a few other longtime friends. After the move, Dad’s life journey took an interesting turn when he met his future wife Mary. They were married in 2004 surrounded by the love of their children, grandchildren, and friends.

Dad is survived by his wife Mary, son Paul (Jane), daughter Alice (Joe) Cuscito and their children Ryan, Riley, Leah, son Rick and his children Paige, Monique, James, sister Jessie (Andy) DeJong as well as Mary’s daughters Julie, Jan (Pat), Joyce (Brian) as well as extended family in Ontario and Holland.

The family would like to thank the caring and compassionate attendants of Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. Our special gratitude to Pete Van Den Berg for his extraordinary care and friendship.

Viewing will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 17, 2012 at Transcona Christian Reformed church.

A celebration of Dad’s life will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, May 18 at Transcona Christian Reformed church, 131 Victoria Ave West. Interment will follow in Green Acres Cemetery.

In Lieu of flowers, if friends so decide donations can be made to Heart & Stroke foundation Suite 200, 6 Donald Street, WPG, MB R3L 0K6 or Alzheimer society 10 – 120 Donald Street, WPG,MB R3C 4G2.