Thursday, April 9, 2020
To Trees' family,
I am a life time friend of Frances and the Smits family and I had the pleasure of meeting your Mom a few times on visits to Lachine. I think it was her last visit to Toos, that Tante Trees shared her war bride story with Toos and myself over tea (with the cozy on the teapot) one wonderful afternoon. My Mom was also a war bride so her tale stayed with me. I will never forget Tante Trees' tale of arriving in Canada, then her long journey by train to Frank. I still think of her poignant story of the train stopping in small towns, and a bride, sometimes with a child (or more than 1) getting off the train and there being no one to greet them on the platform. Luckily Frank was there and her life in Canada began. I also remember her saying how she waited for the go ahead to come to Canada after Frank returned a year or more before her? (may have the length of time incorrect). She spoke of her experiences with the War Bride association. Trees and Toos spoke of war time hardships, their life in Nijmegen , their home, the Café Groenewoud, the cycling track behind the Café, their brothers disappearance and reappearance when the Germans were not around. Never did either of them grumble or complain about living their teenage years during the war. Rather, their laughter rang out over the challenges, the hardships, their adventures and the love and support the family had for each other.
That is my memory of your Mom, Oma, Great Oma, she was indeed a great lady and will be missed.
Francine Golding from Lachine
