Obituary of Margaretha Schouls

Schouls, Margaretha - peacefully at home in her 64th year, surrounded by her husband, children and family members on December 5th, 2006. Margaret was diagnosed with ovarian cancer last December 12. The journey since then has been one of pain and grace, sorrow and hope, now culminating in the sorrow of separation but framed in the hope of the resurrection. This is the hope in which she never wavered. Margaret is the youngest child of the late Rev. Jacob and Mrs. Geertje Tamminga, first pastor couple of the Chatham Free Reformed Church. In the light of the hope mentioned, she is mourned by her husband of 42 years, Pastor Carl Schouls, her daughters Debbi & Bill Sluys (Chatham) with their children Samuel, Leah, Hannah and Reuben; her daughter Brenda & Wayne Otten (St. Anns) with their children Eryn, Danielle, Veronica, Levi and Jordyn; brother John & Corrie Tamminga (Burlington), sister Helen and John Brink (St. George), sister Jeanette & Peter Schouls (Vancouver), sister-in-law Ann and John Van Schubert (Cambridge) and her special and dear friend, cousin Helen Schikker (Chatham). She is also missed by many (great)nephews and nieces as well as by the entire Free Reformed Church family in which she was widely loved, especially in the churches of Mitchell, ON (1978-1984) Vineland, ON (1984-1999) and Chatham (1999- present). Special thanks is expressed to the following: Debbi and Brenda who with sisters Jeanette and Ann nursed Margaret in such an exemplary demonstration of love; the VON nurses and the Homemakers (you know who you are!) for their many and cheerful visits; ER staff at PGH who always treated us well during the many attacks of cellulitis since 2000; family Dr. John Stronks and oncologist/surgeon Dr. Akira Sugimoto and his team of London for their valiant and compassionate efforts. Friends and Family will be received at the McKinlay Funeral Home, 459 St. Clair St., Chatham on Thursday December 7, 2006 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. and Friday from 2:00 - 4:30 & 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be conducted at the Chatham Free Reformed Church, Gregory Drive , East, Chatham on Saturday December 9, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Neil Pronk, a longtime family friend, of Brantford officiating. Interment Maple Leaf Cemetery, Chatham. In lieu of flowers, we invite you to make memorial donations to the FRMI (Free Reformed Mission International) or the local VON.