Nel Boven (née Broere)

On Dec. 29, 2025, Nel Boven (née Broere) died peacefully at Southbridge, Goderich, in her 92nd year. Our mother and Oma is now at rest with her Saviour, Jesus Christ. 

 

Predeceased by her beloved husband, Gerrit Boven, Nel was the loving mother of Joanne and Norman Heimpel of Seaforth, Karl and Anita Boven of Auburn, Peter and Marissa Boven of Toronto, and Elizabeth and Oscar Van Den Assem of Wyoming, Ontario. She was the proud Oma of Krista Heimpel (Wayne Babineau), Edward Heimpel, Adam Heimpel (Andrea Ferin), Nicholas Heimpel, Matthew (Amy) Boven, Brendon (Kim) Boven, Tyler (Leah) Boven, Alex Boven, Elizabeth Boven, Gerrit Boven, Joshua Van Den Assem, Mandy Van Den Assem, Chantelle Van Den Assem. 

 

She was also the proud great-Oma of Helaina Heimpel, Claire and Jacob Babineau, Sage Heimpel, Sebastian, Alora and Vivian Boven, Janie Boven, Ryker and Rhett Boven, Eden Rainey. 

 

Nel was the dear sister of Rijk (Letty) Broere and Meta (Arend) Postuma. She was predeceased by her brother Isaak (Anneke) Broere. 

 

“Neeltje” was born on Oct. 11, 1934, in Wilnis, the Netherlands. After working as a nurse in Holland, she followed her fiancée and his family across the ocean to Saltford, Ontario. She left her family behind in Holland, but became a part of the Boven family in Canada, and cherished them as well. Nel worked briefly as a nurse in Canada also, helped Gerrit on the farm, raised four children, and became a Health Care Aid. 

 

Nel was fun-loving, adventurous and hard-working. She was compassionate and loving, always ready with a hug, a smile and encouragement. Nel experienced many health challenges, not the least of which was losing her vision. Those earthly struggles are now over.  

 

Visitation was held at the Blyth Christian Reformed Church on Friday, Jan. 2 from 2-3 p.m., followed by the funeral service at the church, with Pastor John Kuperus officiating and a luncheon followed. There will be a spring interment at the Blyth Union Cemetery.