Friday, January 21, 2022
Dear VanBrakel family,
My heartfelt condolences on the loss of your husband and father. I can clearly remember the time in January of 1986 when Mr. VanBrakel and my father were unbeknownst to each other in the same hospital unit in St. Michaels in Toronto. Neighbours on the street and in the hospital. Those were difficult days for me, as my father had a serious quadruple surgery and my mother had a heart attack in the waiting room so both were in cardiac care at the time. I stayed at a little hostel run by nuns and wouldn't you know how surprised I was to find your mother share the suites kitchen with me. She was rooming right next door. It was like a gift from God to help me through those initial days before my dad's untimely passing. What a comfort it was to have a "mother" from the block there to help me when I was all alone. I am so glad that you had so many more years together with him.
Elvera Trimboli ( neighbour from Forster Street)
