Johanna and William Verbakel
Dutch Immigrants
Zuiderkruis
August 2, 1951
My husband and I came from Holland and arrived in Canada on August 2, 1951. I was anxious to come to the great Canada because it meant new hope for us newlyweds. We were married in the church in Veghel, NBR, Holland on June 15, 1951 and then made arrangement to come to Canada and be married in the church in St. Mary's, Ontario on Sept. 4, 1951.
I come from a family of 17 children. My father had left for Canada in 1950 on the ship. He packed up the whole family (minus 3 children who stayed in Holland) and he and my mother and 14 children left for Canada. They settled in St. Mary's, St. Paul's, Dublin , Ontario area and farmed.
I did not come until the next year because my husband did not originally want to come to Canada - all his family was in Holland but I had to promise that he could go back and see his family every 2 years and so he got on the ship with me and then we came to Canada.
The Ship took a long time but the closer we got to Canada - the more excited we became. We wanted to start a new life - we only had $5.00 and two plates, two knives, two forks, two spoons that we brought with us from Holland.
We would have been married 60 years this year but my husband passed away in February but I have many, many good memories of us together here in Canada.