Digna Elisabeth ‘Diny’ Molendijk – van Santen passed away at the Innisfail Health Care Centre on November 20, 2025 at the age of 98 years. Diny was born on July 11, 1927 on farm “Het Reusken” in Nieuw-Heeten, the Netherlands. She was the daughter of Jan van Santen 1890 – 1968 and Bertha Geertruida van Santen -Wiltink 1888 – 1973 and a sister to Willy Klosters-van Santen 1932 – 2023.

Diny finished school at the age of 13 and had to help out on the family farm. She had always expressed that she would have enjoyed to continue her studies, but since it was crisis times due to World War II, she never had the opportunity to pursue them. At the age of 9, she started playing the large pipe organ in the church in Okkenbroek and she played it until she was 73 years of age.

Diny married the love of her life, Willemminus Johannes (Wim) Molendijk on September 27, 1950.

Together they had five children, Anke, 1952 – 1952, Anke, 1953 – 1954, Jan 1956, Leo 1957 and Bertien 1959.

At age 73, on December 21, 2000 Diny moved to Canada to live with her son and his wife Geertruida again, where she resided until her passing. She always enjoyed knitting and made numerous pairs of socks and scarves for anyone who wanted one, and loved doing crossword puzzles, which was a favorite pastime for Diny.

Throughout her life, she was always deeply concerned about the happiness and safety of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, as they were her main focus and always sat at the center of her thoughts.

She also carried a profound sense of pride in their achievements and followed their lives closely. Her concern was constant, but so was her pride; an enduring reflection of her commitment to the generations that followed her.

She kept up with the times and taught herself how to use a computer, to keep in touch with her family through Facebook, Messenger and Skype, as some of them may have been far away in distance, but always close to her heart.

Her remarkable memory meant that she never missed wishing a happy birthday to her family.

Her consistency became a quiet tradition within the family, a reminder of her care and affection. Quite often, she would be the first to like or comment on her children’s, grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s pictures on Facebook as she loved to keep in touch with their lives and was endlessly proud of them all.

Diny is lovingly remembered by her son, Jan (Geertruida) Molendijk of Innisfail, Alberta, Canada and their children, his son, Gerwin and Chanel, his daughter, Danielle (Tyler) and their children, Quentin (Marissa), Faira (Sam), Layne and Jocelyn; his son, Leo (Mireille) and their children: Sebastian (Chiawen) and their children: Emi and Seiwen, daughter, Rebecca (David) and their son, Joshua, their daughter Laura (Yann) a their son, Eliot; and Bertien (Marc) and their family: Lotte (Tim) and their children, Maeve, Yuki, Anna Fleur, Yorick, and Myrthe (David) as well a many family members in Europe. She was predeceased by her infant daughters, Anke in 1952 and Anke in 1954, and her husband Wim in 1999. The family would like to thank the Dr’s and nurses at the Innisfail Health Care Centre for their extremely good care of our mother and Oma.

If friends desire, Memorial Donations can be made in Diny’s honor to the Innisfail Health Care Fundraising Committee in support of securing new acute care beds for the hospital. A Celebration of Diny’s life was held at the Heartland Funeral Chapel, 4415 ~ 49 Street, Innisfail, Alberta on Wednesday, November 26, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. If you are unable to attend the service, it will be livestreamed at www.heartlandfuneralservices.com and click on the Livestream button on the right side of the home page. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed at www.heartlandfuneralservices.com. Arrangements in care of: Heartland Funeral Services Ltd., 4415 – 49 Street, Innisfail, Alberta. Phone: 403.227.0006

• Date : 2025-12-01
• Location : (Innisfail) LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED (Red Deer/Blackfalds/Eckville) www.ParklandFuneralHome.com & (Innisfail/Olds/Didsbury/Sundre) www.HeartlandFuneralServices.com