Obituary of Hans Gerardus Beretta

Hans Beretta, peacefully, holding the hand of his beloved wife of 22 years, Brenda Callaghan, and surrounded by his family. Hans in his 82nd year, enjoyed the company of his four children Jim (Janet), Brenda (Ian), David (Bridget) and Brian. Hans is lovingly remembered by his 11 grandchildren and 6, soon to be 7, great grandchildren, many nieces nephews, the wonderful Callaghan family, John Sullivan, Tim and Mary Sullivan, Angela and Jeff Moore, Christine Radford, his Eucher pals, teaching friends and colleagues and the residents and families of Mount Hope. Hans is predeceased by his wife and mother of his 4 children, Rosemarie Beretta (McManus) and by 7 of his 9 siblings, and is survived by his two sisters Pieta (Bart) in the Netherlands, and Fredericka Van Brock of California. For many years, his large Dutch and Canadian family spent time in London and Port Stanley, where summers were spent on the beach, on the boat on Lake Erie, and fishing in northern Ontario. After Canadian soldiers freed Den Haag after WWII, 13-year-old Hans, his mother, and his siblings immigrated from their neighbourhood of Scheveningen. They landed in Montreal and travelled to London, Ontario, where there was a large Dutch community. They had a farmhouse in London, and the family worked hard in their new life in Canada. Hans approached life with determination and commitment, graduating from University of Western Ontario, where he achieved a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics in 1959. Hans went on to touch many lives as a teacher, where he inspired staff and students in mathematics and physics, at Catholic Central High School, Regina Mundi, St. Peter’s, and Fanshawe College. In his last few years, Hans kept his dry sense of humour and knack for storytelling, a love for Dutch licorice dropjes, and a deep love for his wife. His bright smile was a fixture at Marian Villa, and Brenda and the family wish to thank the staff on the 3rd floor, for the care and compassion shown to Hans for the last 4 years. Visitors will be received at John T. Donohue Funeral Home, 362 Waterloo Street at King Street, on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 o'clock. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Michael's Church, 511 Cheapside Street, on Wednesday morning at 11 o'clock. Interment in St. Peter's Cemetery. Prayers Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Also a special thank you to the incredible compassionate medical staff of University Hospital ER and medicine ward and to the staff of Mount Hope where Hans’ bright demeanor will be missed. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Callaghan Fund for Mount Hope c/o St. Joseph's Health Care Foundation.