Pieter Van Bendegem

Van Bendegem, Pieter - Stone mason, died April 1, 2017 (age 87) in Georgetown Hospital after a brief illness. He died peacefully while holding his daughter's hand. He immigrated to Canada at age 23 with a suitcase and $500. Here he began learning two new skills-stone masonry and the English language. He met his kindred spirit Margarete in the English class. They married in 1954. He had an old world artisan's attitude to his craft and took great pride in creating beautiful fireplaces throughout the GTA- most of which are found in Mississauga. Pieter was an easy-going man with a quick laugh. He and Margarete were thrilled that their two children went on to become a lawyer and a doctor. Pieter was predeceased by his wife Waltraud Margarete (nee Issel). He is survived by his daughter Ruby E. Van Bendegem (her husband Donald Hoy), his son Jacobus P. Van Bendegem, and grandchildren Jeremy Hoy, Karoline Hoy, Taka Hoy, Gavin Hoy, Danielle Van Bendegem, Courtney Van Bendegem, and Kaeli Van Bendegem.