Obituary of Eline Leonore Marion Tiesma

Tiesma, Eline (nee van der Lugt) - passed away peacefully at home on Monday December 29th, 2025, at 11:28am. She was wearing Christmas pajamas, tucked in the most adorable Christmas sheets, with hymns playing in the background and surrounded by love. She endured a steady decline due to a 5+ year journey with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. 

Lina leaves behind her loving husband Frederick Tiesma, their five wonderful children, Brent (Shoko) Tiesma, Shawn (Sean) Miller, Erin (James) Young, Benjamin (Stacey) Tiesma, Mardi (Rob) Stewart, and eight amazing grandchildren; Akira (Kaitlyn), Sasuke and Sena Tiesma, Cooper Tiesma-Miller, Ruby Jane and Rock Young and Morrissey and Hennie Stewart. She was predeceased by her parents Abraham and Tjamke Vanderlugt and will be missed by her siblings Beatrix (Al) Moesker and Harry (Susanne) VanderLugt, her nieces and nephews, the extensive Tiesma family and bonus family members: her soul sister Lilian and the Wilkinson family, Calvin DeVries and Lisa Schill.  

Eline Leonore Marion VanderLugt was born on March 16, 1950, in Delft, Holland. As a child, she immigrated to Canada with her family, arriving at Pier 21 in Halifax and beginning a new life in Orillia, Ontario.  

At 17, she met Fred at a Young People’s event at Musselman’s Lake, and from his account: “I saw this beautiful blonde woman across the room and immediately knew I wanted to marry her and have 5 wonderful kids together…” They wed on Dec. 6, 1969, and after a short nursing career in Toronto, moved to New Brunswick for Fred’s new job with IBM.  
 
Their life in NB was rich with friends, church, community and trips to the Versloot farm in Fredericton.  There they welcomed their first four children, Brent, Shawn, Erin and Benjamin. Once settled in Keswick, Ontario, the family was complete with the arrival of Mardi.  
 
Keswick was home for many years, where Lina was deeply involved in her children’s school, her church, and her community. She enjoyed many years working with her bakery ladies and afterwards, cleaning houses for some special clients.  She was always ready to help, whether that meant running a fun fair, sewing a dress, making movie props, or sitting down to work through homework.  

Lina had a deep love for a Midnight Mass, hymns, musicals, karaoke, jigsaw puzzles, a good logic problem, her beloved Toronto Blue Jays and late-night snack runs to Shoppers or Mac’s Milk.  

She loved a good adventure - a road trip close by or back to the East Coast (hello Mazda van!) or flying to Japan or Cuba. Amazingly, Lina made it to every far-off destination any of her children moved to - Lake Louise, Tokyo, Winnipeg, Halifax and several towns and cities across Ontario. She made every trip fun with great tunes, games and snacks. Fred and Lina took their first trip to Cuba as a 40th wedding anniversary gift and that became an annual trip for several years. Being on the beach in the sun was a happy spot for her.  

In 2020, Fred and Lina moved to London to be closer to all but one of their children and all their grandchildren. Becoming an Oma was one of her greatest joys, and she treasured time with her grandkids. 

Following her diagnosis with PSP, Fred lived out their vows and with love, laughter and a lot of determination, he was able to fulfill Lina’s wish to remain at home. The family is especially grateful to her daughter, Shawn, for her amazing care, humour, endless dedication and support. Care in different forms from the whole family, Ontario Health at Home, her neurologist, Dr Finger, PSWs and Palliative Care nurses were essential to helping us keep her home, where she was most comfortable.  

For Boxing Day/Fred’s birthday we also celebrated Christmas and despite terrible weather, more than twenty of us spent the day in their small apartment. Lina always loved a good level of ruckus in her home. Her last week was incredibly special as we surrounded her with love, stories, songs and meaningful goodbyes.  

She will be deeply missed by all that knew her, especially by her devoted husband Fred and will always be remembered by her kids as No Ordinary Mama.  

A celebration of life service will be held at Keswick Presbyterian Church (23449 Woodbine Ave, Keswick, ON) on Saturday January 24th at 1 pm, all are welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Eline Tiesma would be appreciated by the family, supporting the Rossy Family Foundation PSP Centre Fund, at UHN Foundation. Please visit UHNfoundation.ca/tribute or call 416-603-5300