Marie Leticia Margaret van Prattenburg

Dear Marinus Uncle, Rasika Akka, Nirosha Akka, Teun, Rosa and all her grand children! I heard about both Kirthy Aiya's and Aunt Marie's passings very late around the time of my father's passing in 2019. One of my cousins (Dilanthi akka) in Sri Lanka mentioned through facebook. I couldn't believe what I heard and remember writing an email to Rasika akka in Sri Lanka. Uncle Marinus and Aunt Marie visited us in Sri Lanka a couple of times. You both were very happy and enjoyable all the times and were wonderful to have around. We used to call her Nurse Aunt. I remember that she was very thoughtful about everyone and was generous. Both Aunt Marie and Uncle Marinus contacted me on the telephone, after I had arrived in USA in 2005 was a pleasant surprise. Aunt Marie will be greatly missed. Also the time we could have spent together will also be greatly missed. I hope you all find comfort and courage to continue through prayers and guidance from your loved ones around you. May Aunt Marie rest in peace together with Kirthy Aiya ! God rest her soul!

Dear Marinus and Family, We can not imagine what you must be feeling right now, but we want you to know that we are just a phone call away. We are honored and blessed to have known a wonderful person, Marie. She was truly a blessing person and we will miss her. May Our Lord bless and comfort you and your family during this time of grief. Please accept our sincere condolences. May God give her eternal rest and you the strength to bear the great pain. We will never forget her!

Dearest Uncle Marinus, Nirosha, Teun, Rosa, Rasika and kids please accept our deepest condolences. Our prayers and thoughts are with you on this very difficult time of your life. Everyone who has met aunty Marie (Nanda) knew how thoughtful and generous she was specially to understand the needs of the needy and to help to the best. Since the time we got to know each other, she considered us as her own. Aunty and uncle Marinus become part of our immediate family and has been there for us always. We remember with sincere gratitude presence of aunty and uncle at our wedding held in Sri Lanka in 2004 and also for buying us every basic item that prepared us to start our life in Canada. Our fully-sponsored visit to their beautiful Peachland home and their visit to us in Waterloo have countless memories that we cherish very close to our heart. Aunty Marie’s creative ways in gardening, cake decorating, making flower arrangements and cooking always amazed us. We feel blessed that we got the opportunity to see her and chat with her during our brief visit to BC last October and to share our Sri Lankan trip experience with her few days before she passed away. We are going to miss her very dearly! Looking back at the extraordinary life aunty Marie has spent on earth as a wonderful human being, we are assured that there is one more angel in heaven looking down at us. May she rejoice the reunion with Kirthi ayya in Heaven! Love and prayers all the way from Waterloo.

My deepest condolences to the entire family. I knew Marie best when I was a young girl and I have very fond memories of working with her in the garden.I knew that she loved animals so deeply, I also knew that she loved all beautiful things in nature.Her garden was a display of her loving heart, and this I will always remember about her.Marie always treated me with such kindness and generosity. I am in awe of the loving presence of all the friends and family members here. Kirthi and Marie were so fortunate to have this.May you all continue to feel the loving support of one another as you go through this difficult time.God Bless.

Just want to pass my heartfelt condolence to Marinus and family. My prayers and deeply sorry to learn of your beloved wife's passing. I had a flashback of you guys last summer when we met at Carls and Marilyn's place. You both showed me the true meaning of love and I can't imagine your dear wife is no more. Praying for comfort and may her loving soul Rest in Eternal Peace. We will miss her dearly

Dear Marinus and Family, Please accept my sincerest condolences in the loss of your beloved Marie. She was such a kind, sweet lady and a truly good friend; I believe she made each of us a better person. May God grant you all peace and comfort. Marie is not dead; she lives!

We were so Blessed to know Marie, we met at the front door of St Ann’s in Abbotsford approximately 6 years ago, Marie and myself are from Sri Lanka, Marinus and Marilyn from Holland, was a instant bonding,we treasured our friendship.Marie’s dinner invitation was a feast of delicacies . Three years ago we spent time together in Puerto Vallarta, walking thru the premises Marie noticed a juicy papaw and tender banana flower, in her courageous ways was not long before these juicy delicacies were on the dinner table. Any dinner we had with her was finished off with Marie’s speciality, vatalapan, a Sri Lanka custard, as she would only make it. On Dec 27th Marie, Marinus Sam Dilhani and Melish joined us for dinner, of course her vataplan also arrived, made my Marinus under Marie’s watchful guidance. Marie and Marinus thank for your gifts of sharing, love,thoughtfulness Marie your were strong, kind, focused and mostly Loving We will miss you. Marinus,Nirosha, Tuen your sons, Rosa and your family and daughter in Sri Lanka our Prayers Sympathies are with you

Me deepest sympathies to Marinus, Nirosha, Teun, Rosa, Rasika and grand children Maciah, Alayna, Serena, Lucas & Daniel! Marinus, you have done a wonderful job of looking after Marie under adverse conditions sometimes struggling with your own health conditions. May you be blessed with wisdom & courage to recover form your loss! May you be blessed with good health & happiness!!

We are so sorry! It breaks the heart when a friend passes, especially when the last months of life were so full of pain! Marie was so consumed with her loss of her son Kirithi. Marinus, our hearts go out to you, and hope you are doing well. I am so happy that I made it over to see Marie only a few days before she passed away. God Bless You Iris

We knew Marie and Marinus for 6 years. Marie was always caring and kind towards us, and treated always us like family. We will miss her dearly, and we will always keep her in our hearts. Our deepest condolences to the family.

We knew Marie and Marinus for 6 years. Marie was always caring and kind towards us, and treated always us like family. We will miss her dearly, and we will always keep her in our hearts. Our deepest condolences to the family.

I send my heart felt condolences at the loss of Marie. It was just 6 months ago that you lost your son Kirthi, my long time friend. I pray the Lord holds you and the family close to Him. I know of your great trust in the Lord and I know that He will see you through this hard time. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

We knew Marie only via Internet, Jean and Marinus having met on the web for "old pianos" and "old cars" purposes. They became true friends, having much in common. For more than 10 years we shared all the joys and sorrows that happened to Marie and Marinus. We offer Marinus, children and grand children, our deepest condolences, with the feeling of having lost a gentle friend, devoted to her family. Marie shall remain in our memory and prayers.

We wish you who had to leave behind without her, all the best and Gods endless love to bear these loss. We always remember Maries saying: we were "the kids from the backseat" (because off the little space in her Mitsubishi.)

It is always sad when someone is leaving this world for a better one. It is doubly sad when someone like Marie is no longer with us. One meets a person like Marie only a few times in one's life. Her creativity was remarkable. Everyone who happened to be even once in Marie & Marinus’ house in Surrey, Peachland or Abbotsford would immediately see the spark of genius in design and the level of care she maintained. And her garden – where else one can find flowers of this size and quality? But most importantly, Marie had a blessed heart that was open to everyone, a great desire to help, and an amazing warmth that would overwhelm even a stranger from the first minute. She gave a piece of herself to everyone she met, and we all became a bit better because we met her. It is hard to talk about Marie in the past tense, but she will always be in our hearts.

My deepest sympathies Marinus Uncle. I know how much you meant to each other & I'm glad she had you all this time.... It must've been very hard for her with Malli's (Kirthi) passing away as well.... I was in the midst of organizing a religious thing for Malli for his birthday (on the 18th) when Nirosha contacted me. I went to the temple immediately & spoke with the monk & offered a prayer for both of them. I added Ammi's name to my offering & I will be at the temple again on Monday morning (22nd) to offer alms (breakfast) to the monks on the 07th day which is important according to my beliefs.... May you find comfort in your beliefs & thank you for taking care of her. I know you did your very best. Thank you...