GLUBISH, Suzanna
1936 – 2025
Mrs. Suzanna Glubish (nee Herfst) was born on July 31, 1936 in Rotterdam, Nederland. She passed away peacefully at the Red Deer Regional Hospital, Red Deer, Alberta on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at the age of 89 years.
When Suus, as her family called her, was four years old, the Herfsts relocated to Overschie. There she attended school from Kindergarten until age fourteen, with a brief relocation to Leewarden during the Dutch Hunger Winter. Although she wanted to attend high school and become a teacher, the family’s financial situation meant that she had to attend De Rotterdamse Huishoudschool, housekeeping school, where she learned to cook, clean, iron and do laundry. After her marriage, she moved to Ooltgensplaat and then to Tiel, leaving Nederland for Calgary, Alberta in 1966. She became a very patriotic Canadian citizen in 1972.
Suzanna was proud of her job as a printer at Petrotech in Calgary. She also relished her accomplishments of completing her high school diploma in Calgary and earning her certification at Mount Royal College as an Early Childhood Educator, Level 3. She was a preschool teacher for several years in Calgary, fulfilling her dream. Suzanna loved to be with children, and they loved her.
She served many hours as a volunteer. Suzanna was a dedicated ambassador of the Calgary Olympics in 1988, volunteering at Canada Olympic Park until 2004. She also invested time at the Calgary Immigrant Aid Society. Helping new immigrants and teaching them English remained a passion until just before her passing, as she tutored new immigrants with the Red Deer Public Library. Suzanna also volunteered at the Red Cross for many years, repaying the time that the Red Cross supported her and her family during the Second World War.
Suzanna delighted in the outdoors. In her childhood, she biked, hiked and went swimming in the ocean, often accompanied by some of her ten siblings, who she loved dearly. When she came to Canada, she was thrilled to discover the mountains and the clear beautiful lakes. She loved to camp, hike, swim, cross-country ski, and fish.
Her faith in Christ was also a key part of her life. Suzanna attended many churches and worked hard to be a true Christian through her giving to others and her loving and accepting of all people.
Suzanna lived at Deer Park Village in Red Deer for the final years of her life. Here, she volunteered as the librarian and participated in all aspects of community life. Her family would like to thank the staff and residents of Deer Park Village for their support and many kindnesses to Suzanna. They are also grateful for the excellent staff on Unit 31 of the Red Deer Regional Hospital, who took such excellent care of her at the end of her life.
Suzanna’s grandchildren were the most important people in her life. She attended their birthdays, concerts, games, and graduations, and was unfailingly accepting and proud of the adults they became. Suzanna will be lovingly remembered by her three children, Ineke Machnee, Piet Langstraat and Sue Merry; her four grandchildren, Colin Langstraat, Aaron Langstraat, Corvid Merry and Lee Merry; and her three siblings, Elaine Herfst, Hendrik Herfst and Bert Herfst.
A Funeral Service was held on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Parkland Funeral Home and Crematorium, 6287 – 67A Street, Red Deer, Alberta. For those unable to attend the Funeral Service, please go to www.parklandfuneralhome.com and click on the Live Stream button just prior to 11:00 a.m. The Live Stream will be recorded and available to view on Suzanna’s Memorial Page 24 to 48 hours after the Funeral Service. If desired, Memorial Donations in Suzanna’s honor may be made to the Canadian Mental Health Association at 5017 – 50th Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta, T4N 4B2 or at www.cmha.ca or to the Kidney Foundation of Canada at 880, 5160 Decarie Boulevard, Montreal, Quebec, H3X 2H9 or at www.kidney.ca. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed at www.parklandfuneralhome.com

Parkland Funeral Home and Crematorium (Red Deer)

ONLY LOCALLY FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED FUNERAL HOME/CREMATORIUM

IN THE CITY OF RED DEER

“Caring Community Compassion Since 1999”

6287 – 67A Street (Taylor Drive), Red Deer. 403.340.4040.

• Date : 2025-10-06
• Location : (Red Deer) LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED (Red Deer/Blackfalds/Eckville) www.ParklandFuneralHome.com & (Innisfail/Olds/Didsbury/Sundre) www.HeartlandFuneralServices.com