Our son, Eric Renze Vriesema, lived his life with intensity. From the very beginning he loved hard, and experienced emotion deeply. His deep convictions, sense of rights and wrongs and strong-will meant that he didn’t find life easy. When Eric loved you, it was fierce. When Eric was not happy with you, it was fierce. At least it was for those whom Eric loved and who mattered to him.
It is our fierce regret and with deepest pain that we are having to say goodbye after having only 22 years and 25 days to spend with him on this earth. Eric was always full of plans and dreams. And while this is his end, it is very clear to us that he did have big plans for a long life.
Eric is known to us as a young man who worked very hard. While he was quite aware of the fact that he had limitations, he preferred to think of himself as invincible. Earlier this year he broke his finger, and his reaction was – “Well, there goes my theory that I can’t break a bone!”
Eric’s adventurous spirit and will meant that we, as his parents and sister, often wondered exactly what the next phone call from Eric would be about this time. Eric rarely texted and much preferred to talk to us – no matter what time of day. We have already noticed the silence.
Eric spent his days working in landscaping, driving his big blue Buick – which was just about the same age as him, talking to his friends and family, making visits on those he loved, and then ending up at night at his apartment which he loved to hate but with his cat Toupy whom he loved dearly. Eric and Toupy were a closely matched pair.
Eric had lots of dreams. He wanted to build a small cottage and live by a lake in the woods. He wanted to own his own business that required him to do hard work – but the good kind of work that made you the “right kinda tired at night.” He also spent a lot of time trying to figure out what his dream truck would be and sent us links to many, many contenders. You might have seen one or two yourself.
Eric did have his struggles. Eric found school hard and was diagnosed with ADHD. This summer he shared with us often that he knew he had anxiety and that life would be easier if he could accept some form of medical help. But he also felt that he was managing, after all he was a young man who had lived on his own for about 4 years paying his own bills, caring for his cat, and “doing the right things.” It was very difficult for Eric to accept help, hear advice and to let others do for him.
Eric’s father, Joshua, and sister, Karryne, and myself, his mother, Roberta – along with our family – will miss him so very deeply and are grateful for your participation in these steps of remembrance for Eric.
Eric’s family include: Great-Grandpa Clarence Dekker and Great-Grandma Jane (pre-deceased), Grandpa Fred and Grandma Glenda (pre-deceased), Uncle Chuck and Aunt Julie, Michael & Esther; Chariese & Isaac, Karlie, Tyler; Uncle Dan and Aunt Tanisha, Aliya, Cohen, Tessa; Aunt Janelle and Uncle Paul, Breanna, Joel and Alayna, GrandDad Rick (Renze) and Gram E Edith, Uncle Gerald and Aunt Cheryl, Samuel, Helena, Joel, Nathan, Levi; Uncle Simon, Uncle Curtis and Aunt Kira, Benjamin and Vivian, and his extended great Aunts and Uncles and second-cousins on the DeGraaf, Dekker, Haverkamp, and Vriesema family sides.
We want to thank his friends who have reached out to us - know that Eric loved you fiercely too. We want to thank our work families, close friends, and church community for your out-pouring of love and support. We are so grateful for each and everyone of you and the words of support, prayers, and promises to hold us in your thoughts in the days to come.
Visitation will be held at Water Street Church, 287 Water St., Guelph on Friday, November 12 from 3-5 pm and 7-9 pm. Covid protocols are in place. Guests must wear a mask and must sign up for a visitation time slot by clicking the link on the funeral home website. A service to celebrate Eric’s life will be held at Water Street Church on Saturday, November 13 at 11:00 am. Guests must sign up to attend the service by clicking the link on the funeral home website. Guests may also attend remotely by accessing the link on the funeral home website. Arrangements entrusted to the WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL 519-822-0051 / www.wallcustance.com.
Memorial contributions to the Guelph Humane Society or the Canadian Mental Health Association would be appreciated.
A tree will be planted in memory of Eric R. Vriesema in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest.