Frances (Frouwkje) VanBolhuis Steenhof, age 91, passed peacefully surrounded by family on the morning Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
Born September 20, 1934, in Zuidlaren in the northern Netherlands, Frances was the daughter of Jacobus (Jakobus) van Bolhuis and Grietje (van der Woude) van Bolhuis. Her family roots were deeply planted in Dutch soil: her grandparents were Evert van Bolhuis and Bouwina Achterhof, and Jan van der Woude and Gertje Dijkstra — names preserved in Dutch civil records that tell the story of generations of perseverance and faith.
In the early 1950s, Frances immigrated to Canada with her family as part of the post-war Dutch Christian Reformed movement that helped shape communities across Ontario. The Van Bolhuis family settled first in the Weston/Thistletown area of Toronto, building a new life grounded in faith, hard work, and family devotion. Frances carried with her the quiet strength of her immigrant parents, resilience, humility, and deep loyalty to family. She was predeceased by her siblings John, Evert, Wilma, and Grace, with whom she shared the formative years of transition from the Netherlands to Canada.
She later married Richard Steenhof, and together they built a life centered on commitment, integrity, and love for their children. Frances was a devoted mother to Jacob (Dr. Erika Catford), Janet Vroom (Anthony), and Heather Muller (Carl). Her children were her pride and joy, and she gave them the steady foundation of encouragement, stability, and unconditional love. Frances was also a cherished grandmother to fifteen grandchildren and a beloved great grandmother to thirty-five great-grandchildren. Few blessings brought her greater joy than seeing her family grow across generations. Her love extended far beyond her immediate home, and her quiet example of gratitude, faithfulness, and strength will continue to shape her family for years to come.
She will be remembered for her gentle spirit, her steadfast character, and the dignity with which she lived. She represented a generation that crossed oceans not for adventure, but for opportunity, and in doing so quietly shaped the future for those who followed. Her life bridged continents and generations. From the village fields of Zuidlaren to the communities of Ontario, she carried her heritage with grace. Her story does not end here. It lives on in the hands she once held, in the gardens she tended, in the faith she quietly practiced, and in the family, she nurtured with unwavering love. Her life was a steady light, and that light continues to shine in all of us.
The family will receive friends at Carson Funeral Homes – L.Doolittle Chapel on Saturday, March 14, 2026 from 12 noon until time of service in the chapel at 1 o’clock. For those unable to attend, the service will be livestreamed on the Carson Funeral Homes Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/live/CpiBdyDOa8Q?feature=share
Interment will take place in the spring at the Carling Cemetery. If desired, memorial donations may be made to the Mariposa House Hospice in recognition of their care.
Online messages of condolence may be made at
www.carsonfuneralhomes.com
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