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Our dear Gizella Lukacs Araya Vanderwerf passed away in Chatham Hopsice after a long, courageous battle with cancer.
Predeceased by dear father Tibor Lukacs Elfer and loving mother Elsa Ines Araya Vargus of Chile South America.
Loving mother to son Rodrigo Andres Silva Lukacs of London. Loved wife to Richard Vanderwerf.
Loving sister to brother Andres (Monica) Lukacs Araya, 3 nieces of Chile, Step son Hezikiah Vanderwerf, sisters in law Mary Rosseel, Barbara (John) Wysman, Audrey Hamilton, brother in law Sydney Vanderwerf.
Also predeceased by brothers in law Maurice Rosseel and Robert Hamilton.
In Chile, Gizella worked as an office secretary until she found her calling as vulnerable sector care giver. There she worked with the elderly, planning and providing daily activities and outings.
In 2007, she came to Canada, her adoptive country, and in 2011 became a "real Canadian", in her words, acquiring citizenship.
She loved travelling to Northern Ontario, camping, hiking and swimming "better at the beach".
In 2020, Gizella and Rick moved to Manitoulin Island, where she loved her work at Community Living in Mindemoya. Some of the residents of Hope House where she worked, cried if Gizella had been away on vacation. Gizella had great empathy for those less fortunate, she touched many hearts in her life time.
Gizella was a great cook, bread and cake baker; on many occasions for family holidays and birthdays. She loved entertaining family and friends with her kitchen creations. She had such good hands, her step son Hezikiah once said "she could make worms taste good".
Gizella was also a talented artist, painting canvas, wood and rock.
She leaves behind dear forever friends and family in Chile and Canada. Dearly missed by all. "Until we meet again, in Jesus Christ of Nazareth".
The late Gizella Lukacs Araya Vanderwerf is resting at the Eric F. Nicholls Funeral Home Ltd. 639 Elgin St., Wallaceburg. Cremation has taken place. As an expression of sympathy, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Chatham-Kent Hospice may be left at the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www.ericfnichollsfuneralhome.com
