Durkje "Dianne" DeVries

Peacefully at Woodingford Lodge, Ingersoll, on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, Durkje "Dianne" (Heslinga) DeVries, age 91, formerly of Woodstock, beloved wife of the late Jurjen "Julius" DeVries (November 2, 2020).

Survived by her children George DeVries and his wife Marsha, Theresa DeVries Ball and her husband Lyle and Linda Robb and her husband Jimmy. Loving Beppe to her grandchildren Terry (Christiane), Katie (Robert), Brian, Troy (Jessica), Annette (Jason), Jeff (Shannon), Jeremy (Ali) and Joel (Brooke) and Great Beppe to her several great grandchildren she all loved and cherished. Also survived by her brother Albert Heslinga and sisters Ellie Patience and Helen Visser and her husband Symon and their families. Tante Durkje to Alex Nijboer and his wife Klaske and other family members in Holland. Predeceased by her parents Sjoerd and Liefke Heslinga and brother Vern Heslinga.

Born in Beetgum, Friesland on April 9, 1934, her family immigrated to Canada after World War II, she met her loving husband Julius in Holland, and were married in 1956 for close to 65 years.

Dianne and Julius "Pops" had lived a full life together, enjoying many travels to Holland to see their families, spending winter months in Cocoa Beach and Fort Myers along with many bus trips and day tripping. Our mom loved the sunshine, she would often be outside sunning herself, even up the last couple weeks before her death. She also enjoyed shopping, going out for dinner and wine time, all of which mostly everyone would've participated in with her! Her family and being a Beppe and Great Beppe was everything to her, by getting together, visiting, phone calls, hearing all about everyone and sharing photos with her, we all knew we were so deeply loved. Our mother was very special, she was very caring and helped others feel comforted with her kindness and love.

Her time spent at Ingersoll's Woodingford Lodge was filled with joy and the family wishes to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the special staff who went above and beyond to take care of her, also to her many friends she made along the way there.

A private family service will be held at the Smith-LeRoy Chapel of the Glendinning Funeral Home Ltd., 69 Wellington Street N., Woodstock. Interment will be held at at Oxford Memorial Park Cemetery.

Sympathy donations in memory of Dianne may be made to Woodingford Lodge in support of its various programs through oxfordcounty.ca.