Dinie Gerrits

Dinie Maria Gerrits passed away peacefully on Friday, October 21, 2016 at Chapel Hill Retirement Residence, after a brave struggle with dementia. Dinie was born in the small town of Zevenaar, Netherlands on January 9, 1934 and grew up with one older brother, Theo and two younger sisters, Han and Marian. She lived through WWII and, in her early 20s, met the love of her life, Frank Gerrits, whom she married on May 14, 1958. Her adventures began quickly as the newlyweds immigrated to Canada soon after their wedding, settling in Pembroke, Ontario. They built a house together on McGregor's Hill where they spent 52 happily married years together raising Joan, Audrey and Rick. Dinie dedicated her life to raising her family, which grew to include many grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved to travel and would enjoy trips to Austria, Paris and more with her husband, Frank, along with fun family trips, most notably to the Maritimes, Orlando, London, Los Angeles and many other destinations. After losing Frank to cancer in 2010, she spent her remaining years in the warm and loving embrace of daughters Joan (Wade), Audrey (Benoit) and son Richard, grandchildren Ben (Amber), Chelsey, Molly, Hannah, Jessica and Francis, great grandchildren Ethan and Maxwell. She will be dearly missed and her pride, love, devotion and generosity for all of us were limitless. Dinie is resting at Malcolm, Deavitt & Binhammer Funeral Home, 141 Renfrew St., Pembroke, ON, K8A 6X1 on Friday, October 28, 2016 from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. and again on Saturday from 9:30-11:00 a.m. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the Most Holy Name of Jesus Church, 284 Trafalgar Road, Pembroke, ON, K8A 5A8 on Saturday, October 29, 2016 at 11:30 a.m., followed by cremation. As an expression of sympathy, donations to the Pembroke Regional Hospital, Geriatric Mental Health Unit, www.pemreghos.org/geriatricmentalhealth, are greatly appreciated. Online condolences are available at www.malcolmanddeavitt.com.