Mrs. Sylvia (Sytje) Fokkens of Spruce View, Alberta passed away peacefully at the Red Deer Hospice, Red Deer, Alberta on Sunday, December 21, 2025 at the age of 88 years. Sylvia was born on October 27, 1937 at Vogelenzang, Netherlands to Johannes and Geertje van der Wekken. She was the only daughter with three brothers, John and Joe were older and her younger brother, Bill. She immigrated to Canada with her family in 1956. She worked in Calgary for a short time before moving with her family to Raven, where she worked for Olive and Howard Thompson. Another move to Lacombe, Alberta to join her parents followed and that is where she met Willem ‘Bill’ Fokkens and they were married on October 29, 1957 and had three daughters, Gerty, Margaret and Irene before moving to Spruce View area, then came two sons, Derk and Dennis. Bill worked for Howard Thompson before starting Bill’s Transport, which Bill and Sylvia ran until they retired and sold the business to their eldest son, Derk. Bill and Sylvia enjoyed travelling with their motorhome to Saskatchewan, Alaska, B.C. and Manitoba and into the United States. After Bill passed away in 2009, Sylvia continued to travel taking some bus trips and travelling with her family. She also took a trip to Greece with her childhood friend Marry, from the Netherlands.

Sylvia was an active member of the Dickson Church. She enjoyed time with her family, knitting and puzzles. She leaves to cherish in her memory, her five children, Gerty, Margaret (Chris), Irene (Norman), Derk (Marlene) and Dennis (Bonita); fifteen grandchildren and thirty-one great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law, Francis, Donna and Gretha as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Sylvia was predeceased by her husband, Willem ‘Bill’; her parents, Johannes and Geertje van der Wekken; her brothers, John, Joe and Bill; her sister-in-law, Ann and brother-in-law, Mans Fokkens and son-in-law, Colin Kure.

A Celebration of Sylvia’s Life will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at the King of Kings Lutheran Church, Dickson, Alberta at 1:00 p.m. If desired, Memorial Donations in Sylvia’s honor may be made directly to the Red Deer Hospice Society at www.reddeerhospice.com.

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 : 2026-01-05
• Location : (Innisfail) LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED (Red Deer/Blackfalds/Eckville) www.ParklandFuneralHome.com & (Innisfail/Olds/Didsbury/Sundre) www.HeartlandFuneralServices.com