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Vera Van Riper
April 24, 1932 - September 17, 2014
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<div itemprop="description"><br />Vera Van Riper, aged 82 years, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 17, 2014 at TBRHSC with her family at her side.<br /><br />Vera was born on April 24, 1932 to William and Laura Barrett in South Gillies, Ontario.<br /><br />She married her first love John (Jack) Van Riper on June 20, 1952. They enjoyed 50 years of marriage before his passing in 2002. The last 11 years Vera shared her life with her sweetheart and dance partner Kurt Stajkowski, until his passing in February of this year.<br /><br />First and foremost, Vera was a homemaker and caregiver, always putting the needs of others before herself. Baking was her specialty, especially in the fall when she made dozens of shortbread for the church bazaar. She knew everyone&rsquo;s favourite cookie and always had them on hand to have with tea. And of course, there was always a dessert after any meal, usually a pie. She was an avid gardener and had a green thumb for growing both flowers and vegetables. People would walk by her home on Sprague Street and often stop in to admire her beautiful gardens.<br /><br />Vera loved the outdoors and spent many happy years out at Iron Range Lake at the camp that her and Jack built. She called it &ldquo;A little piece of heaven on earth&rdquo;. In recent years Vera and Kurt went on many camping trips in their 5th wheel trailer, sharing many good times with his large family.<br /><br />Vera and Kurt started a new lifestyle in June 2013 when they moved into McKellar Place. Here she met many friends, old and new, and especially enjoyed afternoon tea.<br /><br />Vera was a lifetime member of St. Andrew&rsquo;s Presbyterian Church and the Iona Guild, where she flourished in organizing many bazaars and working in the kitchen making sandwiches for luncheons. She had many friends through her involvement at the church and its many functions and will be dearly missed by the girls she had lunch with each Sunday. Vera was also a longtime member of the Lakehead Ladies Shrine Group.<br /><br />Vera will be lovingly missed by her daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Michael Kane.<br /><br />She is also survived by her siblings Cyril (Alice) Barrett, Irene (Eric) Fox, Hazel (Herb) Kaus, Winnie Byington (John), Everett Barrett (Sylvia) and Sharon (Harry) Holowach. In-laws Glenn and Betty Van Riper (Traverse City, MI) and Leonard Felbel. &ldquo;Her girls&rdquo; Kim, Kelly and Kara, who she loved as her own as well as many nieces and nephews.<br /><br />She will also be missed by Kurt&rsquo;s family Alvin (Delma), Martin (Margaret), Marilyn (Keith) Nett, David, Bruce (Linda), Norman (Wendy), Carol and Laura (Rob) Larabee along with his many grandchildren and great grandchildren.<br /><br />She was predeceased by her husband John (Jack) and her loving companion Kurt, along with her parents William and Laura Barrett. Also by her siblings Ralph (Audrey) Barrett, Doris (James) O&rsquo;Connor, Jean (Ray) Sitch, Leta (Peter) Cherwonick, Esther (Kurt) Stajkowski and Thelma Felbel.<br /><br />Funeral services for Vera Van Riper will be held on Tuesday, September 23, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. in St. Andrew&rsquo;s Presbyterian Church (Grant Hall). Services will be complete in the church. A time of fellowship will follow at Jenkens Funeral Home Reception Centre. Visitation for family and friends will be held on Monday, September 22, 2014 from 6 &ndash; 8 p.m. at Jenkens Funeral Home.<br /><br />Should friends so desire, donations in memory of Vera can be made to St. Andrew&rsquo;s Presbyterian Church Building Restoration Fund, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation or a charity of your choice.<br /><br /></div>