It is with deep sadness that we share that Adri (Aad) Bisenberger passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 18th – a month before his 86th birthday – with his wife Claudia and son Serge at his bedside at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, where he had been cared for since December 21st following a fall.
Aad was born and lived in the quaint, picturesque village of Zandvoort, Holland, until he immigrated to Canada in 1975, where he met and married his adored wife Claudia. Aad always had an affinity with aviation and as such held many positions in the aviation industry. He was also a talented amateur photographer. Throughout his life, Aad loved to travel. He especially loved to visit the beautiful island of Grenada – the beloved birthplace of his wife Claudia – and his native country Holland. Once Aad could no longer travel, he often reminisced and longed for his beloved home village and would fondly recall his years managing movie theaters such as the prestigious Tuschinski theatre in Amsterdam. It was in his homeland where Aad developed a love of flowers. For their entire life together, Aad gifted Claudia with flowers at least once a week and there was always a vase or two of flowers in their home.
We are comforted in knowing that Aad is now rejoicing with our Father in heaven where he is reunited with his mother Johanna (Jopie), father Joseph (Joop), stepson Andre, mother-in-law Elaine and others he loved and lost in life.
Aad leaves behind his devoted wife Claudia and will be deeply missed by his son Serge (Sandra) and stepdaughter Michelle. He was the proud and adored Opa to Bodi, Sarah
(Alexio), and Hannah (Daniel), and will be deeply missed by his family and friends.
Aad was truly a force of nature and both his personality and appearance oftentimes made quite the impression. He was a unique, intelligent and quick-witted human being. His passing leaves a huge void in the lives of those who love him, but we will be comforted by our memories, and he will never be forgotten.
The family will receive friends at Rod Abrams Funeral Home, 1666 Tottenham Rd., Tottenham, (905-936-3477) on Saturday, March 1, 2025, from 12:00pm until the time of the Funeral Service in the chapel at 1:00pm. A reception will follow in the funeral home’s Cliffside Hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Michael’s Hospital “Palliative Care Unit” would be appreciated. Condolences and memories may be left for the family at www.RodAbramsFuneralHome.com.
Service
Visitation
Rod Abrams Funeral Home
1666 Tottenham Rd., Tottenham, ON, L0G1W0
Saturday March 1, 2025
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Funeral Service
Rod Abrams Funeral Home
1666 Tottenham Rd., Tottenham, ON, L0G1W0
Saturday March 1, 20251:00pm
Nel Schuchard says
Shocked and with great sadness I unfortunately had to read the sad news via Internet that my dear friend Aad passed away on February 18th.
Dear Aad, on behalf of us have a good journey to your loved ones. You left us with beautiful memories and will remain in our hearts forever! Rest in peace.
Nel and Reggie
Yasmine Benjamin says
I met Aad in Canada when he began dating Claudia in the 70’s, I lived in Canada at the time and Stephanie, Claudia and Aad were the folks I hung out with. I left Canada in the early eighties and lost touch for many years. I began frequenting Toronto again a few yeard ago and reconnected with the group. Claudia and Aad were quite happy I came by to reconnect, and it was like old friends once again.
I sadly did not get to see them last summer when I visited but was fortunate to speak with both of them. Aad found old photos of years gone and happily emailed them to me. We had a special connection. He will be greatly missed.
My deepest Condolences to Claudia, Serge, Michelle and all family members. Love you all.
May he rest in Peace eternal.
Yasmine Benjamin
Maria Joseph Dowhsn says
Dear Claudia and family,
We are so sorry for your loss and hope gods blessings will continue to surround you and your loved ones.
Sounds like a wonderful life with your beloved husband, the memories last a lifetime. God bless you on your journey.
Sending love and so much prayers.
Maria Joseph Dowhan
Annette Moore says
Aad was more of a relative than the typical blood relative can be.
When this tall, athletic looking man from Zandvoort, Holland married my cousin Claudia and came to Grenada, he was only a tourist the first time. For as long as he came on his wife’s, Claudia’s, annual trips to escape the harsh Canadian winter, he acted like a Grenadian in the diaspora who was making his yearly visit, leaving golden bronze from the sun, each time.
On these frequent visits to Grenada, he would come to our humble family home in the countryside and fit right in, going to the land to harvest fruit and vegetables, drinking coconut water directly from a coconut, journeying to the river, going to the town of Grenville and doing just about all the things a returning national would do. People would see this tall, handsome caucasian man with bouncy, golden hair and soon come to treat him as a 100 percent Grenadian. Aad did not present as a foreigner. He just looked like one.
Aad had a deep sense of justice. I recall one time when someone said something mean to me, after returning home from a beach outing where my cousin, David, had almost drowned. While David was safe, I hadn’t seen him since the incident as the coast guard had picked him up and taken with him in another direction. Someone made a joke and may have said he drowned or something of the sort. I began to cry and Aad got upset and addressed the issue. I never forgot it.
I normally went to the capital of Grenada, St. George, where Aad and Claudia would spend most of their time, staying at Aunt Elaine’s (Claudia’s mom). On several occasions, I was outdoors with Aad as he practiced his photography, a skill he was great at. I have many photos from my childhood that he took. I even recall the day we took that one photo with the sunflowers in my hair and the day he created a mini photo booth and took photos to practice using shadows and controlled lighting techniques. Many family photographs and numerous photographs of Grenada can be attributed to him. To be honest, I would love to have his entire photo library. He was that good. I do believe his work needs to be showcased – maybe an online site in his name, which will be a great tribute to him as a creative.
Dogs. Aad loved dogs – at least he loved my dogs! (Smile). Aad’s favorite dog of all the dogs I’ve had was Leon. Once Leon was ill and Aad went to the vet with me. At this time he and Claudia were staying in Grenville on their visits, again at Aunt Elaine’s (she had retired and moved back to the country, St. Andrew’s). So, Leon was not a dog to be played with. Once, Claudia had tapped him on the rump and he sped around on her so fast. We can laugh about it now, but Leon didn’t play. So, Aad had been trying to befriend him. We went to the vet and on the way back home, Leon and my other dog, Faith, sat near Aad, humbled by the vet visit and comforted by Aad’s presence. Of course, Aad had doted on them all during the visit and all the way home.
Following that, Aad and Leon were the best of friends. Aad looked forward to seeing Leon on visits and was devastated when Leon was poisoned by a malicious person and died. For years after and, as recently as last year, Aad talked about Leon. I loved Aad’s way with dogs – the way he would treat them with respect and love and talk to them. It is said that if a person loves animals that is a good indicator of a good character. So said, so done.
To Aad, I was Annetski. It was my name in his country of birth, I suppose. Many birthdays, I would receive a beautiful e-card. How thoughtful! I have friends who don’t even recall when my birthday is! I always appreciated the time he made to acknowledge other’s special moments.
Like Claudia, Aad was a great beacon of support from my mother’s initial cancer diagnosis in 2016 to her death in 2019. Did I say he loved my mother? It seems as if the same close bond Claudia had with my mother was also passed on to Aad. My mother loved him just as much. I felt like he cherished her most as a relative. He was always kind during her illness and truly hurt by her passing (as he was by anyone in our family who was sick or had died). During that time, he sent many messages and emails, letting me know that he was thinking of us and sometimes sending useful information to be helpful. I would like to think that they are now reunited.
When I graduated from Midwestern State University in Texas in 2004, he gladly ventured into cowboy land with Claudia to ensure the family was represented on that special occasion. That meant a lot to me, as my mother did not really like airplanes/flying.
Just a few months ago, after Andre’s funeral I begged Aad to send me some of the beautiful shots of my beloved cousin that I saw on a memorial collage. Before I knew it, Aad found and emailed those photos to me, for which I was immensely grateful. I even saw myself in one of them – a photo Aad had taken about four decades ago. We always connected over dogs and photography! When my interest in photography sparked in the 90s, guess who gave me my first books on the topic? Aad. Two Kodak photography books.
How could I end without relating how witty Aad was? He had a sometimes dark, edgy and sarcastic sense of humor. To say he was a hoot would be an understatement, particularly when he would ask something along the lines of:
“And can’t you see how incredibly and undeniably gorgeous I am? Long golden tresses and ripped, glistening muscles? Am I not the hottest man on earth? Can you not feel the earth melting?” (Laugh – If you know Aad, you can hear versions of this in your head)
Or how about the time I received an email titled, “I must admit…I need you urgently”. Knowing Aad, I had to laugh out loud. What did he need me urgently for? A copy of his marriage certificate, as he and Claudia had gotten married in Grenada and it had to come from the island. Aad certainly knew how to turn up the humor. It’s either you got him or you didn’t. If you did, it was never a boring moment. Most emails or messages were laced with his wit.
We must indeed be grateful for the relatives we gain through marriage, some of whom truly become FAMILY, in every sense of the word. I’ve never met Aad’s son, but I can tell him that his father always talked about him and was exceedingly proud of him. I extend my sincere condolences to you, his son, Serge. Thank you for sharing your father with us. He truly enriched our lives with his presence for the last four or five decades.
Today, as we say our final goodbyes, I extend heartfelt condolences, again, to our dear cousin Claudia, her daughter Michelle and granddaughters, the family in Canada and all others impacted by the loss of our dear Aad.
I will miss Aad’s caring way, his emails, his messages, his unmistakably Dutch flavored voice saying all manner of laughable things, his coming to Grenada, his killer sense of humor and all things Aad. It was great having him as part of our family and I am grateful for everything he brought to the table.
May Aad rest in peace and be reunited with those he loved most. ❤️
Gabriela & Mircea Florescu says
We are sharing in your sadness as you remember Adri.
We will miss our occasional conversations with him, his natural intelligence and his curious mind.
May all your wonderful memories of him comfort you during this heartbreaking time.
Sincerely,
Gabriela & Mircea
Elton Charles says
Dear Aunty Claudia. Please stay strong! Our prayers are with you at this time.
Harry says
Mijn deelneming met het verlies van Adri
Ik wens Claudia,Serge en de bedroefde familie van harte Sterkte !
Adri is mijn vriend
Ronald Branxg says
My condolences to Aunty Claudia and Michelle,on the passing Aad Bisenburger.
My time spent with Aad.
Aad possessed a witty and strong personality.
I am originally from Grenada.
I grew up in Barbados.I realised
He had a fondness for Grenada.
As he would travel on many trips to the Spice isle with my Aunt Claudia by his side.
He seemed to be an avid photographer,I remember seeing many photos through the years and they came out beautifully.
The highlights were taken in Grenada.He was also kind to me.On one of my visits to Canada he took me to a baseball game.It was exciting to me,being my first baseball game
The Toronto Blue jays were playing.I recall to sit in the bleachers and witness this wow! Inbetween the game we
had a good chat together.
He picked some good seats.
My Mom Auntie Claudia’s cousin; she spoke fondly about him.
Being Dutch I know he spoke four languages,I found this amazing
Rest in peace
Ronald Branch
Annette Moore says
Very nice tribute. Thanks for sharing.
Randy says
Once in a lifetime we all need to know a truly unique individual. Ad is that person to me. This would by my memory of Ad. We watched many a leafs game, buying paint in Canadian Tire, you asking me “where did you learn to cook” ? Randy! I think we are in a gay bar! I remember a man fiercely defendant of his family, a man set in his ways, a stubborn man, a proud man and inexplicably a cat lover or any animal for that matter.
Ad, the world today is certainly a less interesting place without you!
May your movements in Heaven be of good consistency!
Randy
Annette Moore says
I loved reading this. Thanks for sharing. That joke took me out. Typical. Aad.
Teresa Medendorp says
Thinking of your family as you process your loss. I hope that the support and well-intentioned words of others helps you through your journey of grief. I hope that time is spent sharing more of the fond memories about how Aad lived his life and touched yours.
Kindest regards and sympathy.
Vesna, Melissa and Jelena says
Dear Claudia and family,
Our sincere condolences, thinking of you and sincerely hoping that time and warm memories will help ease your sadness. I will always remember our conversations, Add was a true friend to our family, may he rest in peace and he will always be in our hearts.
Juriaan Warnars says
Dear family and friends… we hereby would like to offer our sincere condolences for this big loss.
It has been years since I (Juriaan) met Aad in person but I still remember the day as if it was yesterday. That was because I didn’t know he was back in his birth town Zandvoort and when you almost literally bump into someone you haven’t seen for a while it leaves a lasting impression. Also because Aad was always happy and smiling whenever you talked with him and showing genuine interest in how you were doing.
Aad was a big fan of the Tour de France and I still remember the road maps and notes that lay scattered across Serge and Sandra’s dining table. A day to day plan to follow the biggest bicycle festival in the world by hire car. Every Summer when I watched the Tour de France on national television it always reminded me of Aad and his passion.
Rest in peace,
Juriaan and Liv from Zandvoort
Glenna Ogilvie says
To Claudia, Michelle & family. My heart felt condolences to you & family. Aad & I used to exchange news about Grenada & functions in Toronto. May God comfort you & give you peace during this difficult time.
Rut Tesfay says
I deeply sorry for your loss. .
It’s difficult to find the right words to say, but please know I’m sending all my love your way.
You are in my thoughts and prayers.”
I am grateful to meet someone like Adri
I will miss him
Rosalind Althea Archibald says
Dear Claudia and family, please accept or sincere condolences on the passing of your beloved Adri. Our thoughts and prayers will be with you always. May his soul rest in eternal peace.❤️
Sincerely,
R. Althea Archibald and Dean Archibald and family.
Glenda keens Douglas says
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of your dear Aadie Claudia my thoughts and prayers are with you and the family at this time the lord will give you comfort and strength
Cuthbert Telesford says
It is with great sadness to hear that Aad has passed away. We send our deepest condolences to Claudia and family. May Aad R.I.P.
Cuthbert
Ardie says
My Condolences to Big A’s Family .Thank you for the good laugh and the sweet treats .You will always have a special place in my Heart .I miss you Big A Rest in Peace.
Ruth Keens-Douglas says
My sincere condolences to Claudia and family on the passing of your Dear Aad May the Lord bless you, comfort you and bring you peace at this difficult time.
Peter and Marjon Bisenberger says
Our sincere condolences for your loss of Aad. To Claudia,Serge, family and friends .
We wish your strength and love in difficult times.
With love from France to you all,
Peter, Marjon,Tim,Aurore and Daniel.
Christine bryan says
I have known Mr B for a couple of years now , we have shared so many smiles and so many laughs since he walked into St Micheal’s. When he walks into the room the room always lights up. He was more than a patient he was more of a friend. He will truly be missed . Rest in peace
Jean Moore-Calliste says
Aadie, as we called him will be missed.
I remember our family vacation days;
Relaxing on the white sands in the warm sunshine on Grand Anse beach.
Buying treasures from the locals, parading the beach.
Climbing hills and Old Forts ; taking out scenic photos.
Aadie filed the house with requested music of oldies, The Mighty Sparrow’s calypsoes and our favourite “Day-O” by Harry Belafonte.
These are some of our pleasant memories of times spent.
He loved Grenada.
He loved his family.
We find comfort as we reminisce.
Most of all Aadie loved the Lord Jesus.
He reminded me of that recently.
He loved praying. You could never pray too much as far as he was concerned.
Jesus left us with this word;
“ I go to prepare a place for you that where I am there you may be also”.
From your dear sister-in-law.
Jean.
Roseta Forde says
May God strengthen the family.From Rose and Ronald Branch.Our prays and love surround you.Rip