Prins – Jacoba “Coby” Prins of Brooks, beloved wife of the late Fred Prins, passed away in Brooks on Sunday, December 25th, 2016 at the age of 88 years. Coby was born in Kampen, Holland on September 7th, 1928 to Hendrik and Johanna Kwakkel. She married Fred Prins in Holland on October 19th, 1950. With their eldest daughter Clara, they immigrated to Canada in 1952. They made Brooks their home and raised four more children: Ria, Coby, John, and Henry while employed at Brooks Alpha Dairy (Dairyland). Coby loved her family and spent countless hours creating a loving and hospitable home. Her love for socializing with friends, knitting, baking, shopping, riding her bike, reading as well as writing poetry, and listening to music were passions in her life. She was a member of the Brooks Christian Reformed Church and also loved singing in the choir. Coby will be fondly remembered for her spunkiness, humour, quick wit, creativity, and being a very classy lady. She was predeceased by her soulmate/ husband Fred on April 15, 2010; granddaughter Miriam; son-in-law Rick Anderson; daughter-in-law Cathy Prins; and three brothers (Gerrit, Hank, and Joe) all of Holland. Coby is survived by her loving family; five children – Clara Broersen and husband John of Brooks; Ria Powney and husband Dave of Brooks; Coby Vande Griend and husband Terry of Lethbridge, John Prins and wife Cathy of Brooks, Henry Prins and wife Lynsey of Brooks; 17 grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren; brother-in-law Joe Prins and his wife Arda of Brooks; one brother Walter Kwakkel in Holland, and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held on Friday, December 30th at 2:00 pm at the Christian Reformed Church in Brooks, Reverend Martin Boardman officiated. Honorary pallbearers were Coby’s sisters-in-law: Arda Prins, Grietje Prins, Annie Kwakkel, and good friends: Elly Dijk, Elaine Orlita, Anne De Jong, Helen Hankins and Nellie Vossepoel. Pallbearers were Coby’s granddaughters: Cindy Jensen, Jackie Bouchard, Jodie Power, Nichole Davis, Camille Prins, Jenessa Lowe, Monique Better, Stephanie Havens, Renee Calvert, and Janine Ferner. Internment followed at Brooks Cemetery. If friends desire, memorial tributes may be made in Coby’s memory to the Diabetes Association (Brooks and District) Box 187, Brooks, Alberta, T1R 1B3.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to:
SMITH FUNERAL HOME LTD. AND CREMATORIUM, BROOKS, ALBERTA
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