Rinskjen "Irene" BAARDA
Rinskjen 'Irene' Baarda passed away peacefully at Welland Hospital on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in her 86th year, at the age of 85. She was predeceased by her loving husband, Tjitze Jim, after 63 years of marriage. Irene was a loving mother to Hilda (Carl) VanSoelen, Stan (Bobbi-Jo), Richard, Ed (Beth), Astrid, and Paula. She was a most loving Oma to Carl Jr, Julie, Larissa, James, Melinda, Brittany, Branden, Brady, Owen, Jackson, Hudson, 11 great-grandchildren, and her grandbaby, Chewy. Irene was a beloved sister of Diane (Bert) VanBeek, Henny (Lawrence) Uyl, Hilly (Paul) Gaskin, Sharon de Ruiter, Brenda de Ruiter, and the late John (Linda), Al, Henk, and Herm. She was a beloved aunt of many nieces and nephews and a sister-in-law of Clarence (Ann), John (Barb), Dan (Dianne), Reinder (Diana), and sister Meta (Rob) Dyck. Irene was predeceased by her parents, Gerrit Dirk and Hilda de Ruiter, her in-laws, Simon and Attje Baarda, her sister-in-law, Clara (Harry) Schilstra, and brother-in-law, Neil Baarda. Friends and family will be received at Bethel Christian Reformed Church, 17 Robinson Road, Dunnville, on Wednesday, April 15th, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. The funeral service will be held at Bethel CRC on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 11 a.m. Private interment will precede the service. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations for Dunnville Hospital & Healthcare Foundation. Arrangements have been entrusted to Ballard Minor Funeral Home, 315 Broad Street East, Dunnville.
