REICHGELD (NEE BURGERS), Maria Elisabeth (Marlies)
February 11, 1936 - April 11, 2022
Marlies passed away peacefully with her children by her side while her and her late husband's music played in the background.
Born in Nijmegen, Holland, Marlies and her family endured the hardships of WW11. Through neighbors she met the love of her life, Theo (Ted). They wed in 1957 and the next day set sail for Canada. Having mistaken pictures of Lake Louise for Calgary, they arrived in Calgary during Stampede Week. To their amazement they landed in a "wild west town" complete with cowboys on horseback. Undaunted, they soon started a family and made life-long friends.
Missing the ocean and sailing, in 1969 Ted found work in Vancouver. Marlies was a little afraid of the water, even though her natural buoyancy prevented her from retrieving a dime from the bottom of a four-foot pool. But her fear did not hold her back from numerous family boating trips.
Family was important to Marlies and she enjoyed her children's various sporting activities. Her maternal instincts transferred seamlessly to her grandchildren. She took great interest in their lives and delighted in attending their school and sporting events. All the grandchildren's friends called her Oma. She liked nothing better than to have family around her and held Sunday dinners for the whole clan, sending everyone home with leftovers.
Predeceased by her husband Ted and sister Helga, Marlies is survived by her brother Peter (Mieke), her children Marco (Linda), Carmen (Dave), Roy (Melinda), grandchildren Russell (Mackenzie), Maryse (Gavin), Glenn, Megan (Matt), step-grandchildren Rachel (Myles) and Jason (Meagan) as well as numerous family in Holland and Belgium.
Our family is comforted by the thought that she is reunited with her adored husband. Marlies and Ted loved to dance up a storm. When we hear thunder, we will think of them flying around the dance floor.
As per Marlies's request, there will be no service. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Paul Sugar Palliative Support Foundation at www.paulsugarfoundation.com.