Julia Aleida Christina Denelzen
elevated nkB01 October 7, 1932 – November 5, 2025
elevated nkB01 Funeral Mass – Chapel of St. Joseph (within the Funeral Home)
Saturday, November 29, 2025, at 12:00 pm
elevated nkB01 To watch the Mass live, please click here
elevated nkB01 Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home
211 Langstaff Road East, Thornhill, ON, L3T 3Z6
elevated nkB01 Obituary
Julia Denelzen (known as Julie, Mom, and Oma) passed on November 5, 2025, at Holland Christian Homes in Brampton, Ontario, aged 93.
elevated nkB01 Julie was born in Alkmaar, Netherlands to parents Cornelia and Nicolaas van de Kamer. She was the youngest of twelve children and the sole remaining member. She is survived by her children Yolanda Townsend (nee den Elzen) and Robert den Elzen, as well as her six grandchildren (Gabriella, Vanessa, Courtney, Hailey, Olivia, and Jackson). Our dynamic, funny, and thoughtful ‘Oma,’ will be deeply missed by her children and their spouses (Wayne, Paulette, and Carolyn), and her grandchildren. Her youngest son, Stephen den Elzen, married to Carolyn, predeceased her in 2014.
elevated nkB01 Julie is recognized for her zest for life, enthusiasm for travel, dedication to family, strong religious convictions, and great fashion sense. Her adventurous spirit was demonstrated throughout her lifetime. In 1957, after completing her nursing degree, she traveled alone by ship—the Maasdam—to Toronto, Canada, where she visited her sisters, Nelly and Coby. Sadly, upon arriving in Canada, she received news of her mother’s passing.
elevated nkB01 She remained in Toronto for a year, where she met Bart den Elzen and worked at the Northwestern General Hospital (which was replaced by Humber River Hospital). She returned to Holland after learning that her father was quite ill.
elevated nkB01 Bart wrote weekly while she was in Holland. After her father’s recovery, she returned to Canada. Upon her return, Bart proposed, they married, raised three children, and built a successful retail business specializing in high quality women clothing. They later divorced.
elevated nkB01 After returning to nursing in her mid-50’s, she worked with a mission in Liberia, Africa and for a long-term care home in Toronto.
elevated nkB01 Julie visited many countries across Africa, the Americas, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, and New Zealand. She enjoyed sharing stories and gifts from her travels, spending time fishing and kayaking with her grandchildren at their cottage, hosting dinner parties, celebrating Christmas, and salvaging and reclaiming found items. Julie was also a certified scuba diver, enthusiastic swimmer, and continued windsurfing well into her sixties, kayaking into her eighties, and cycling into her nineties.
elevated nkB01 She was a talented artist who raised money for Canadian Food for Children by selling handmade quilled cards and crafts at church bazaars. Over many years, Julie dedicated hundreds of hours creating and selling her crafts, and donating all proceeds, while also organizing family and friends to collect food and clothing, and weave mats for those in need.
elevated nkB01 Julie actively supported the Blessed Trinity church community, where she participated in services and engaged regularly with friends over coffee about current events.
elevated nkB01 She had a deep sense of humour and acknowledged her imperfections, especially her love of playing slots at the casino. Many of her friends remember her playful nature and goodwill.
elevated nkB01 When Julie’s memory began to noticeably decline in mid-2023, she moved from Canterbury Place Senior’s Residence to Faith Manor at the Holland Christian Homes, where she was lovingly cared for until her passing.
elevated nkB01 Julie’s legacy and life lessons about living with purpose, passion, and kindness will live on in her family. She wanted us to celebrate her life, which we will do with honour and much love. She will be deeply missed. Mom / Oma, wij houden van jou (we love you).
elevated nkB01 In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to:
elevated nkB01 Canadian Food for Children
elevated nkB01
My deepest condolences to you all. Cherish the memories you have and find peace in the assurance we have in faith in our Lord and Saviour. Comfort and blessings to you all.
Our sincerest condolences Yolanda, Rob, Carolyn, Wayne, Paulette, and Families. We were blessed to have known and spent time with Mrs D. We always admired her love of travel and adventure. May the memories you all have help to ease the ache in your hearts. Rest in peace Mrs D.
So very sad to learn of Aunt Julie’s passing. She was a remarkable woman, full of grace, dignity and humour. Sending love to Yolanda and Roland.
Twenty years ago, a computer fix sparked an unexpected and cherished friendship. Julie was my first customer, and her immediate kindness turned a simple service into a lifelong bond.
She so generously shared my name with everyone she knew, but what she really gave us was her heart. She became family. My daughter knew her as ‘Oma, and we will forever treasure our visits and the thoughtful gifts she prepared with so much love.
We will miss her dearly. Rest in peace, dear Oma.
Julia and my mother sat at the same dining room table at HCH until my mother’s passing this past spring. We would have some nice conservations about her childhood in Holland. And of course I noticed that she loved her desserts.