Obituary of Claire Gina Numan

To view the livestreamed service on Monday, December 18, please click here.

Claire Numan

August 3, 2005 – December 10, 2023

Claire Gina Numan lived for 18 years, 4 months, and 7 days.  Her name means “clear and bright” and she truly lit up our lives.  She is the beloved daughter of Terry Numan and Jacinda Reitsma and she leaves behind her older brother Avery and her younger sister Charlotte.   It was over ten years ago that cancer became a part of Claire’s life when she was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma.  For many years we had every reason to hope that her cancer would never return and we watched in awe as Claire always came back more determined than ever to live a full and meaningful life.  Her life will leave a permanent imprint on us as we attempt to navigate life without our Claire.

She is loved and missed by her grandparents, Fred and Helen Reitsma and Jim and Gina Numan and by great-grandmothers Johanna Vaandering and Emmie Bruining.  She is the dear niece of Kim and Brad VanHaitsma, Lesley and Steve deBoer, Angela Reitsma and Dave Frei, Meghan Reitsma, Derek Lebert, Angela and Eric Schotsman, Chris Numan and Kim Martin, Dave and Paulina Numan, Renee and Derek Groen, Jessica and Allan Norg, James Numan, and Jessica Desjardins.  She will be missed by her cousins Ruby, Maddie, Sam, Andrew, Arie, Fiona, Reese, Rowan, Janelle (Geoff), Adam, Nathan, Leah, Mikayla, Olivia (Jeremy), Taylor, Christopher, Blake, Denver, Meaghan, Devin, Alex, Travis, Julia, Austin, Dylan, Kate, Reuben, Cole, Micah, Jordyn, Jaxon, Cooper, and Quinn.  She also leaves many great aunts and uncles who loved Claire deeply.  She will be missed by doctors and nurses and medical teams at London Children’s Hospital and Grand River Hospital who pulled out all the stops to help Claire.  They became Claire’s family too.  We are deeply grateful that Dr. Alexandra Zorzi could be both a doctor and friend to Claire for almost a decade and will never forget her love and dedication.  

In June 2023 Claire graduated from Woodland Christian High School where her teachers and classmates always treated her like the normal kid she wanted to be.  They showed Claire the meaning of love and supported her during the most difficult times.  We will remember Claire’s fire, spirit, wit, tenacity, sense of humor,  and her deep love of music. She performed in drama productions, saxophone solos, choir performances, and musicals. She shared her gift of singing everywhere including Waterloo Christian Reformed Church and the open mic night at the Duke of Wellington.  As her band teacher once said “I’ve never met such a tiny person with such a big soul.”.    She was accepted into the psychology and neuroscience program at Wilfrid Laurier University but sadly was not able to attend.  School and learning were passions for Claire and she looked forward to a life of learning and experiences. 

Claire always reminded us to embrace the normal parts of our lives - being able to go to school, or work, or spend time with the people that we love.  She reminded us that the creative outlets are an important part of who we are.  Each day after dinner she would sit by the piano or pull out her guitar and sing her heart out.  We will miss that most of all.   Claire’s organization skills were second to none and she loved being part of student council and organizing large events.  She had a heart for the forgotten and marginalized among us and brought attention and support to organizations that provided love.  Claire adored Avery and Charlotte and was able to share with them how much she would miss being part of their lives.  Our most precious memories are the summer road trips we took together across Canada with the five of us packed into a car and travel plans that were finalized along the way.  Claire wanted to stay here with us but her faith provided her with the peace she needed to leave.  She knew that God was with her on the best day of her life and on the worst day of her life and this gave her comfort.  

You can honour Claire by learning to play a musical instrument, buying an original piece of art, singing in a choir, organizing your bedroom, working hard on your homework assignments, making lots of to do lists, cross country skiing in the quiet woods, reading a book in a park, buying a journaling bible, planning a fundraiser, organizing a relay for life event, crocheting a blanket, running for student council, refusing to get mad about things, silently enjoying a sunset, perfecting a cinnamon bun recipe, watching a musical, finding an amazing group of friends, and telling people how much you love them.  

Visitation will be held at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo on Saturday December 16, 2023 from 2-5pm and Sunday December 17 from 6-9pm. We will celebrate Claire’s life and mourn her death at a memorial service to be held at Community Christian Reformed Church, 1275 Bleams Road, Kitchener on Monday, December 18 at 6:30 pm .  We welcome everyone who was touched in some way by Claire’s life to attend.  A private interment service at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Waterloo will take place for family and close friends.  

We ask you to consider a donation to a fund set up in honour of Claire at Woodland Christian High School by clicking here or to Childcan by clicking here.