Obituary of Gezina "Sientje" Scholten

Peacefully and surrounded by her family, Gezina "Sientje" Scholten passed away on July 30th, 2026 at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital in Fredericton. Sientje was born on July 29th, 1933 in Slagharen, Netherlands, and emigrated to Canada in 1952 with 16 siblings at a ripe age of 19 years.

She mastered the English language and graduated from Fredericton High School. She continued her studies at the Saint John School of Nursing and graduated with her RN designation. In addition to accomplishing the English language upon arriving in Canada, she received the “Best Nursing Award” upon graduation. After several years of nursing at the Saint Joseph Hospital in Saint John, she pursued her studies at Dalhousie University and received her Public Health Diploma and spent 18 years in this field. Sientje was all about family and was the second oldest among twenty children. She used her expertise to nurse her father who passed away in 1963 and five years later she nursed her mother at home.

After her mother passed, Sientje temporarily left nursing and with the help of her sister Fientje, they took care of their 3 younger sisters and 3 brothers for a period of two years. In 1981 Sientje retired and moved to Toronto where she spent many years volunteering for many organizations, in particular Saint Vincent De Paul, working with the poor. While in Toronto she went swimming everyday and played bridge which was her passion for many years. Ooooh, she loved her bridge. While she lived in Toronto, she spent many Christmas Holidays with Fientje, Joe and family.

Her travel passion took Sientje and her sister Theresa on eight cruises - Hawaii, Alaska, Russia, Europe, Panama, Ireland, Scotland & the Caribbean. In 2015, the age of 82, she moved back to Fredericton to be with her family. The last few years of her life she lived at Shannex (2017 - 2024) and continued enjoying bridge and evening entertainment while listening to Lynda Jean on most evenings playing her piano. She was forever grateful to her for making Sientje’s evenings enjoyable. She also enjoyed her many get togethers for coffee on Saturdays with her siblings and in-laws; many, many meals at Bea and Willys’ home and many Mondays driving around Fredericton doing chores with sister Anny. Sientje really appreciated her family.

In January 2024 she went into the MacLeod Paradise Villa Special Care Home. Many thanks goes out to the staff who were very caring, compassionate and made the Villa like her home. A special thank you also to the staff on 4 West who cared for Sientje with utmost respect until her final days.

Sientje will be deeply missed by sisters, Nardy Lourenssen, Anny Buyting (Harry), Fientje Cameron (Joe), Theresa Scholten (ex Danny Price), Paula Tomilson (Wayne), Marilyn Gallant (Pierre), and Aleida Fox (Mark); brothers, Willy (Bea) and Tony (Lea); sisters-in-law, Dini, Anne and Jeanette; brothers-in-law, Neil Brewer Sr., plus many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, Alexander and Maria (Weekamp) Scholten; sisters, Femmy Veerkamp, Liedy (child), and Truusje (infant) and Mary Brewer; brothers, Bertus, Benny, Alex, Johnny, Herman, and Fransje (child); sisters-in-law, Irene and Connie, brothers-in-law, Gerald Lourenssen and Tom Veerkamp; nephew, Neil Brewer Jr. and niece, Alida Sowers.

Visitation will be held at McAdam's Funeral Home on Tuesday, August 11, from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Dunstan's Catholic Church on Wednesday, August 12, 2026 at 12:00 pm with Fr. Peter Osborne as celebrant. Interment will take place in the Hermitage Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that contributions be made to the Greener Village Food Bank.