Antonia ‘Toni’ Maria Schalk (née Verdaasdonk)

Antonia “Toni” Maria Schalk (née Verdaasdonk) passed peacefully in her 91st year, with her son Ed by her side, on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Strathroy Middlesex Hospital. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, John, of 55 years (March 19th, 2015). Cherished mother to Peter and his partner Paula (Fort Nelson, British Columbia) and Ed and his wife Karan (London, Ontario). Oma to Ben, Blaine and his wife Sarah. Great-Oma to Liam, Max, and Danny. Survived by brother, Tony (Wilma); sisters-in-law: Corrie (Martin), Riet, Nel, and brother-in-law, Will, all of the Netherlands. Predeceased by her siblings: Kees (Corrie), Sjef (Coba), Hein (Rieka), Jan (Corrie); her beloved sister, Riet, and in-laws, Kees, Bets, Frans, and Theo. Tante Tonny will be dearly missed by countless nieces and nephews.

Born in Prisenhage, North Brabant, The Netherlands on November 21st, 1933. She survived the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands as a child, and later, met her John at a dance in 1953. Married on May 3rd, 1960, they immigrated two days later and Toni always delighted in saying she was on an endless honeymoon in Canada. Settling in London, Ontario, together they purchased Davis Greenhouses in 1966, which they owned and operated for 45 years. Toni and John were founding members of the Ontario Flower Growers Cooperative, and the last cut-flower operation in London, before finally retiring in their mid-70s in 2009. Known throughout the city for their sweet peas, freesias and the unsurpassed quality of their tulips, florists still comment that they “Just can’t get tulips today as nice as John and Toni grew.”

They built their dream home on a farm in Middlesex Centre in retirement, where Toni enjoyed working in her massive vegetable garden, entertaining friends, playing cards, bowling in the Dutch league and brunch at the Mandarin. She will always be remembered for her homemade soups, croquettes, turkey stuffing, and meatballs. She was an accomplished seamstress and could mend and sew any item of clothing and was especially proud of designing and creating her wedding dress. She was very proud of her sons’ and grandsons’ athletic and educational accomplishments, and was thrilled, and filled with purpose and joy, when her great-grandsons Liam, Max, and Danny entered her life.

We would like to thank the staff at Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital, Byron Family Medical Centre, LHSC Cardiac Unit and Bayshore PSW’s for the excellent care Mom received over the years.

Visitation will be held at Westview Funeral Chapel, 709 Wonderland Road North, London, Ontario on Sunday, March 24, 2024 from 2:00- 4:00 p.m.  A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. George’s Catholic Parish, 1164 Commissioners Road West, London on Monday, March 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Relatives and friends are welcome by the family for visitation one hour prior to the Mass in the St. George’s Catholic Parish Narthex. Interment at St. Peter’s Cemetery on Monday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person: sgtvlondon.ca. As an expression of sympathy, donations in memory of Toni may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. Those wishing to send flowers, please consider purchasing from Gammage Flowers (519-438-4114).