Lena Vandenakerboom
1937 – 2026

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Lena Anna Elizabeth Vandenakerboom of Rocky Mountain House, Alta.

Lena was born in Zevenhoven, Netherlands, to Marten and Klaasje Verburg in 1937. Lena immigrated to Canada with her family in 1952, first settling in Ontario then moving to Saskatchewan, where she met and married Johannes (Joe) Vandenakerboom. They were married in 1960 in Ontario, then moved to Rocky Mountain House in 1976 and have remained here since.

Mom was active in the First Christian Reformed Church for many years, singing in the choir for many of those years. Mom loved to sing. She would often be heard singing her favourite songs as she worked around the house or while she was cleaning the Christian school, where she was the custodian until she retired in 2000. She wasn’t simply the custodian, she was also mom and grandma to some of the students there, since all her sons and three of her grandchildren went there too.
In her retirement, mom and dad loved to go camping in the mountains, taking in the beauty and splendour of that part of creation. The knowledge that Lena is gone to Jesus, her Lord and Saviour, is what sustains us in our sorrow.

Lena is survived by her loving husband of 65 years, Joe Sr.; sons Gary (Shirley), Rick (Angie), and Joe (Darlene); five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; and her surviving siblings.

Lena is predeceased by her parents Marten and Klaasje Verburg, and sisters Jenny and Joyce.

A celebration of Lena’s life was held at the First Christian Reformed Church, Rocky Mountain House, on Monday, April 20, 2026.

Memorial donations may be made to the Rocky Christian School in her name.

Condolences may be forwarded to www.rockyfuneralhome.ca.

Rocky and Sylvan Lake Funeral Homes and Crematorium, your Golden Rule Funeral Homes, entrusted with the arrangements.