Coby Waldren

Passed away, at the age of 94, Coby, (Jacoba) Elizabeth Waldren, nee Van Bronswyck, a beloved mother, grandmother (Oma) and great-grandmother.

Coby was born on Feb. 10, 1920, in Vlissingen, Holland, to a merchant marine, Jacobus van Bronswyck and his wife, Lies (Beuker). She and her family, including her brother Leo and sister Marie, moved to The Hague a few years later. By the late 1930's, Coby had taken the trade of a hairdresser. During World War II, Coby had to work on farms to provide food for the family. After the Liberation in 1945, she met Canadian Army Private Homer "Wally" Waldren whom she married when she moved to Lethbridge in 1948. They had a son (Robert) a year later and a daughter (Deborah) in 1955.

By 1956, she opened the well-known "Coby's Beauty Shop" on 13 St. N. She added a beauty school, a children's and a women's clothing shop to the business. She also owned stores in other locations, such as a beauty school on 7th St. S., and the "Cinderella Children's Clothing Store" on 3rd Ave. S. Coby also bought and sold many houses in town, turning them into successful rental properties. Her husband Wally predeceased her in 1970.

After her retirement in 1980, Coby travelled extensively. She took many cruises and enjoyed long stays in Hawaii and Holland. She and her friends Finn Miller and George Vickers (and their dogs) drove through the Southwest U.S. in the early 1980s. She settled down to spend winters at the Sky Valley Park, in Desert Hot Springs, California, from 1986-2011, a true snow bird. In her last few years, she enjoyed playing bridge and crib at the local seniors' centres, and the Casino. She resided comfortably at St. Therese Villa.

She died in her sleep on December 24, 2014. She had a long life well-lived, working hard, and always enjoyed her freedom and friends. Coby was tough and independent, but generous and hospitable in spirit, always supportive of those around her.

She is survived by her son Robert Waldren, her daughter Debra Leinweber (Phillip), her three grandchildren Maya, Allan and Bryan (Leah) and two great-grandchildren Lily and Jude.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 10th at Assumption Roman Catholic Church, Lethbridge. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Lethbridge & District Humane Society, or Save the Children Canada.

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