BRAAK, Pauline

Posted: July 19th, 2019

PAULINE (Apolonia) BRAAK

née Nieuwenhuis

June 12, 1930 – July 8, 2019

“Therefore, since we have been

justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1

The Lord took home to be with himself Pauline Braak who peacefully passed away at the age of 89 in the Smithers Bulkley Lodge.

Pauline was christened Apolonia Nieuwenhuis in Freisland, The Netherlands, but everyone called her Plona. She immigrated to Lethbridge with her parents and 6 siblings after the Second World War but this did not deter Hendrik Braak; he left his family with the hope of renewing their relationship. In May of 1953 they were married in the Lethbridge Christian Reformed Church and then began married life in the 2 room house that Hendrik had built.

They were blessed with 6 children; Corry (& Cindy) Braak who live in Orlando Florida, Betty (& Mark) Bandstra in Smithers BC, Sid (& Debra) Braak in Calgary AB, Pete (& Debbie) Braak in Lethbridge AB, Hermina (& Gerald) Vanderkwaak in Smithers BC, and John (& Marlene) Braak in Lethbridge AB.

After the last child was born, Hendrik acquired a building lot, moved the house over onto a concrete block basement and finally installed hot & cold running water plus one bathroom.

Besides her family, Pauline’s greatest joy was reading, sharing her faith, and knitting for family and homeless shelters.

The family grew to include 15 grandchildren; Carly, Christi, Danielle, and Cassidy Braak. Tamara, Theo, and Darcy Bandstra. Kyle and David Braak. Natasha, Neil and Christina Vanderkwaak. Shaun (deceased), Jennifer and Kevin Braak. Pauline could only be convinced to travel if it included visits to see the kids and grand-kids. Fortunately for Hendrik that included places like Orlando FL, Ottawa ON, and Fort Nelson BC.

While Pauline had already lost her older sister, Shirley Dykman ✞, her dad, Siebren Nieuwenhuis ✞, and her mom Botje ✞ (Postma), the loss of her beloved husband of 46 years, Hendrik ✞, in 1999 was a huge shock. She continued to live in her Lethbridge home surrounded by siblings Stan ✞ (& Rita ✞), John ✞ (& Ann ✞), Tina (& John ✞ Procee), Pete (& Marj), and Sid (& Martha). Her brother-in-law, Herman ✞ (& Margriet ✞) Dykman, who lived in BC, visited regularly. Her husband’s siblings also stayed connected. Her own family expanded with spouses for the grandkids and 25 great-grand-kids.

In 2012, due to her cognitive deterioration, she was moved to Smithers where her two daughters, Betty and Hermina, live with their families. After three years of loving care in Hermina’s home, Pauline was moved to the Bulkley Lodge where the staff also provided excellent care. The contentment that came from her trust in her Saviour, Jesus Christ, never wavered and she peacefully left this earthly body on Monday July 8th to go to the place prepared for her in Heaven. It is a day she has been anticipating with great joy. Her ashes will be interred next to her late husband in Lethbridge AB, and a service in the Maranatha Christian Reformed church will take place on Monday August 12 at 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may donate to a cause dear to her heart, the Immanuel Christian School in North Lethbridge AB.