Anke (Anna Marijke) Callowhill

It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Anke Callowhill, age 78, formerly of Surrey, BC. Anke passed away peacefully in hospital on August 20, 2025. She was a gentle, sweet and caring soul.

Born November 9, 1946 in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands, Anke was the beloved eldest daughter of Sjoerd and Anna Gerbrandy. As a young child she lived with her parents and siblings in the Netherlands and Venezuela. The family immigrated to Canada in 1954, where she grew up in Oakville, Ontario.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Guelph University, and signed up for fencing club, where she met a handsome and polite young man. Bryan Callowhill was the love of her life, and they married in 1969. He carried a snapshot from university of the beautiful, smiling, slim Dutch blonde in his wallet all his life. Together they raised three children. Anke was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She took special delight in her grandson and great-grandson.

Anke was a faithful Christian, involved in various churches and activities as her family moved from Ontario, to British Columbia, then Saskatchewan, and finally back to BC. She had a lifelong passion for nature — she loved birds and wild animals, and kept a menagerie of pets throughout her life, sharing this love with her children.

She cultivated beautiful flowers and nurtured her bountiful vegetable garden, canning her produce and cooking for her family with love. She was a skilled embroiderer and seamstress, and took great joy in hand-crafting porcelain dolls and ornaments—each a reflection of her artistic talent and care.

She is lovingly remembered by her husband Bryan; her children Erika (Steven Comin), Warren, Roberta Baran (Kevin), and by her grandson David Baran (Larissa); and great-grandson Jakob. She is also survived by her brother Ralph Gerbrandy (Chris) and sister Maritza Gerbrandy.

Over the past five years, Anke faced significant health and emotional challenges. After suffering a serious stroke in spring 2020, she dealt with isolation under pandemic restrictions while she adjusted to her new physical limitations. She was able to reunite with her loving husband when they moved together into assisted living. Further health challenges followed: infections, broken bones from falls, heart attacks, breast cancer — and the progression of Bryan’s Alzheimer’s disease. The last two years of her life were particularly difficult for her due to them living in different care residences.

Throughout these struggles, she always drew strength from her faith, trusting her life to God’s hands.

By Anke’s request, there will be no service or celebration of life. She will be laid to rest attended by immediate family.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of BC in her honour — and in memory of our parents’ everlasting love for each other.

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He makers me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside still waters,

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runners over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

— Psalm 23