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Grada was the oldest daughter of Theodorus and Maria Overdreef . Born May 24 1929 in Lobith, Holland, near the Rhine River. Being the eldest child, Grada was always helping her mother with the eight younger children . When the war started she never got past grade 3 but could read and write in two languages with no problems. Grada lived through WW2 and the occupation of Holland, she was close to areas where there was intense fighting nearing the end of the occupation, losing a very young sister during this time . The family immigrated to Canada in 1952 settling in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to start a new life. The family was sponsored by a farmer, and they worked in large commercial gardens. It was in Winnipeg where she met and married her husband, Bud, in 1956 . The new couple moved to the family farm near St.Walburg shortly after. There she raised 3 children, David ,Deborah and Darren, working countless hours on the family farm. Later on, they sold all their stock and grew grain. Grada and Bud spent close to 20 winters in Arizona. The free oranges and the flea markets were a great source of joy for Grada. She also enjoyed gardening, flowers, baking bread and cookies, her Dutch ancestry, knitting and crocheting.

She was predeceased by: her husband, Bud.

Grada leaves behind to mourn her passing: her three children, David (Joyce), Deborah (Jeffery), and Darren (Margaret); her five grandchildren, Garnet and Juleta (David & Joyce), Sean and Joshua (Jeffery & Debby), Alexandra Ryan (Darren) and 3 great-grandchildren, Jacob & Markus (Sean & Natasha) and Maksim (Joshua & Brianne).

People that met Grada would quickly find that she was a caring person and many will remember her that way.