Thursday, December 15, 2022
. Imagine, Ria at the age of 51, starting a new life together with her husband, far from home and with ten growing children in tow.
Moving from a familiar farm in The Netherlands to a large dairy farm in the Stettler area was no small feat. New language, new customs, new climate, new uncertainties. And there she was: Ria Verhoeven, ready to face the challenges head on and managing to pull it off with flair and dedication!
Ria was a real trooper, a woman who didn't complain but got the job done. At the time of immigration, none of her ten children were married just yet and as a mother she cooked for them all, in a kitchen so small it couldn't seat all of the kids at once for dinner, so for the time being she served the meals in shifts.
Ria could make a meal from scratch at a moment's notice. She was a very good cook, growing her own veggies for many years, and up until late in life she could be found standing at that kitchen counter preparing one meal or another. And coffee was always on.
A few years later when Jos and Ria had built their new home, there was a bigger kitchen to work in but also more mouths to feed because by that time the grandkids had come into her life. The new house also had a very large open basement and over the years that basement was filled on many occasions with kids and grandkids and drinks and food, and noise and laughter all around.
Ria loved to see her family get together. She herself had grown up as the oldest of ten children so she was used to a large family setting. But she had left her own mother and her extended family far behind when she immigrated to Alberta and we can understand how her family here became such an important aspect of her life.
Ria was a courageous and devoted wife. She was a proud, caring and traditional mother. And for many many years, she was known to everyone as Oma Ria! She made all of her 25 grandkids feel special, greeting them with a gentle touch, inviting them to sleep-overs or playing cards with them. Rummikub was one of her favorites. She sometimes would let the grandkids win, of course!
And now Ria will be laid to rest. Her time and dedicated energy have come to an end. But her sweet memory lives on.
Ria was a great example to us all. We love you Ria.
May you rest in peace.
