A well known Sarnian, highly regarded for her social activism, has died.
Thea DeGroot lost her battle with pancreatic cancer on May 16 at the age of 69.
Born in the Netherlands, Thea and her family came to Canada in 1957, settling in Brantford, before moving to Sarnia in 1969 to teach at Sarnia Christian School. It was there that she met her husband of 46 years, Art DeGroot.
Thea worked tirelessly for justice locally and around the world and had a lifelong passion for Aboriginal peoples.
She was involved in the Lambton Circles Program, Sarnia Justice Film Festival, Citizens for Public Justice, the Sarnia-Lambton Food Coalition and Amnesty International.
Thea received a YMCA Peace Medallion in 2015.
A celebration of Thea DeGroot's life will be held Friday at 2pm at Redeemer Christian Reformed Church in Sarnia, followed by a light lunch.
Donations will be accepted for the work of Ottawa-based Citizens for Public Justice, and the Lambton Circles Program.
