Adriana Alida “Ada” Huisman
November 2, 2012
Adriana Alida (Ada) Huisman was born to Marten Manus and Adriana Steeneveld in Ryswyk, Netherlands on December 21, 1923. She was the youngest of five children.
Ada was raised in Delft, a city 5 kilometers south of Ryswyk, where her father had a tomato farm. As a young girl she helped her father on the farm and has disliked tomatoes ever since. Life was normal for the Steeneveld family until the onset of World War II in May 1940. They lived near Rotterdam which was totally demolished by German bombers so they knew full well that the German occupation of Holland would be a terrible time. Ada rarely spoke of the war except to say that her father was shot and killed by the Germans just a few days after the occupation began and that there was a constant shortage of food in the later parts of the war.
After the war, Ada worked for “De Jager,” a Dutch hunting magazine. She was very much appreciated for her work. In fact, her bosses said she could be trusted “like a Dutch banker,” quite a compliment in those days.
Ada met her husband-to-be, Ynze Huisman, on a blind date. Ynze lived in Telkwa at the time and made a trip to Holland where a friend arranged the date. The date obviously went well and they were married on August 14, 1959. It was hard for Ada to leave Holland but she also looked forward to her new and undoubtedly adventuresome life in Canada. They settled on a farm in the Round Lake area.
The Huismans adopted two boys. Randy was adopted as a 4-year-old in 1959 and Peter as a 6-year-old in 1964.
The Huismans lived on the farm for many years and then retired and moved back to Smithers. Ynze passed away on November 22, 1991. After Ynze’s death, Ada moved into the Alpine Estates. She passed away in the Prince George Regional Hospital on November 2, 2012 with her niece, Ida Hamhuis, at her side. She was 88 years old and ready to meet her Lord and Saviour.
Ada was predeceased by her husband Ynze in 1991 and by granddaughter Stephanie in 2005. She is survived by son Randy, his wife Ruby and daughter Lee Anna of Terrace, BC and son Peter, his wife Maggie and children Kyle and Adrian (fiancé Samantha Hince) of Ottawa, ON. Ada also has a great granddaughter, Lavina Rose (Nina) Lowther.
A memorial service was held at the Bethel Reformed Church on November 7, Rev. Lou Slagter officiating.