Tribute

Alice Bazuin (nee Witteveen), Feb.13th,1939-Aug. 6th, 2024

Beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Alice passed away quietly at Cerwydden Care Facility in Duncan.

Alice was born in Harkema, Friesland in the Netherlands and came to Canada in 1952 as a young 13-year-old with her parents and siblings in search of a new life. Their journey led them to Vancouver Island where they worked on a farm. She married Luke Bazuin in 1958, and moved to Chemainus, where Mom was blessed with four children. Once the youngest of us was settled into school, Mom went outside the home to work. She was a teller in the Credit Union, and then at CIBC for a number of years. Because she worked in Duncan, Mom was able to bring us and other kids to Duncan Christian School in the mornings for many years. Her priority was always that we would be trained up in the way we should go. Christian education was important.

Alice loved music and sang with many groups,  choirs and performers; with a ladies group in Saltair-Mom sang and played guitar; with the church choir, or as part of a praise team; with the fellow performers during “hospital days”- an annual fundraiser for our Chemainus hospital in the 1970’s; and singing in two choirs (mixed and a ladies choir) at the Chemainus Senior Center. She enthusiastically attended all our concerts in return for attendance to hers! She gladly came to the big stadium concerts as well. Her love of music is passed down to all of her children and grandchildren. She left this world right after the “Amen”, as we sang “Praise God from whom all Blessings Flow.”  How fitting.

Mom loved life in Chemainus and would happily show off her flowers to anyone who would walk past on the sidewalk. After Dad passed away in 2006 Mom continued to cut roses or hydrangeas for all who would ask, and many would. Gardening brought Mom peace and after moving to Cerwydden Mom enjoyed the courtyard gardens.

Many have shown kindness, grace and mercy to our Mom and to us, and we would like to thank you.

Thank you to those at Cerwydden who cared for her, especially in the last few months when her needs were greater.

Her church family were the hands and feet of Jesus, visiting and caring for her, singing with her, and praying for her. Thank you for continuing to show the love of God to all who will hear.

Extra special thanks to Mom’s beloved sister Susan. Thank you for all that you have done, whether it was doing Mom’s hair, singing to her, showing her all our pictures, or visiting so often. You set a wonderful example.

We, as a family, thank you.

It is hard to carry on without you, Mom, but we will see you again. Welterusten, Mom

Lovingly remembered by:

Rick (and Ying Bazuin), Cindy (and Harry DeVries), Lyn-Nell (and Brian Lousley), and Carol (and Marc Bandet) And Alice’s many grandchildren; Robert, Olivia, Julie, Peter, Mark, Shawn, Emily, Leena, Tommy, Brennan, Katie, Tyler, and MJ, and even two great-grandsons; Mason and Orson.

Mom is also survived by brothers John Witteveen (Wieppe), Ike Witteveen (Jennie) and Raymond Witteveen and by her sister Susan Witteveen. She is predeceased by sister Sadie Wikkerink