Bessie (Beeuwkje Jantje) Schuurman
July 9, 1944 – December 25, 2022
Bess left us on Christmas Day with peace, grace and dignity and is now in her Heavenly Home.
She was the second child to be born to Jacob and Grace Schuurman in Granum, AB and as an infant lived on the family farm until finishing high school in Barrhead. She then entered the Misericordia School of Nursing in 1966, graduated and used her nursing skills to work in Lethbridge, Cornwall Ont., Australia, New Mexico, Edmonton, Barrhead, Inuvik and at Kootenay Lake Hospital for 26 years after settling in Nelson in 1978. Most of her career was spent in the ICU and Emergency departments.
Bess contracted the travel bug early in life and these travels took her through South America, Australia, across Canada, the USA, Mexico, Central America, East and North Europe, and some of Asia. She was an avid outdoors person, enjoying hiking, biking, cross country skiing, kayaking, and was part of the Cancer Survivor Dragon Boat team. At the age of 64, Bess bicycled from Nelson, BC to St. John’s, NFLD, with only the Lord at her side. It took her 4 months, most often camping along the road; spent the winter with friends in St. John’s, and then returned to Nelson by bicycle the following summer.
Bess’s faith in God was steadfast and she lived her life as such. She gave of herself to several charities and volunteer groups; her dedication to mankind was immeasurable which is shown by the countless number of exceptional friends she had.
Bess is survived by brother Henry (Judy), brother Tom (Nancy), brother-in-law Peter Almost, sister Edna Jennings(Leonard), and brother John (Jo) plus numerous nieces, nephews and their families, and her second family in Nelson, Vivian, Sylvia, Bobbie and Patsy. She was predeceased by her parents, Grace and Jacob Schuurman, sister Jennie, baby sister Martha at birth, nephew Clinton and dear friends Carol and Don Dozi.
Bess will forever be remembered by her loving family and dearest friends. She is now hiking and biking the highest peaks in heaven.
Celebrations of Life will be held in Nelson, BC on April 8, 2:00 pm at the Kootenay Christian Fellowship Church. Interment and Celebration of Life will be held in Neerlandia at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Kootenay Lake Hospital, The Cancer Society or a Food Bank of your choice.
