On a foggy Monday morning, our mother, Hendrika (Riekie) Berendina Robicheau, quietly took her leave in a way that was true to her modest but independent nature. After making sure that all of the family events – her seventy-seventh wedding anniversary on March sixteenth, her ninety-sixth birthday, on June twenty-second, her husband Raymond's one-hundredth birthday party on June thirtieth, and a community and Legion celebration on July second to recognize that milestone and his past service – were complete, she passed away in her sleep, in her own bedroom, in her own house, early on July third, ensuring that most of the festivity attendees – counting to more than fifty family members – were still present, thus giving everyone an opportunity to say their final good-bye.

As a war bride, Legion events were important to Mom, she served as President of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Carpiquet Branch in Freeport, N.S. for several years. Born in the Dutch city of Nijmegen, right on the border with Germany, Mom experienced the worst of human nature during World War II, but despite that – or possibly because of that – she always tried to instill in her children the values of kindness, tolerance, acceptance, and understanding of others that she herself displayed.

As the mother of nine kids – seven girls bracketed by two boys – tolerance was one of our mother's virtues that we often tested. Through it all, from dealing with the life-threatening condition of her infant first-born, to coping with the local teen-age boys who, for some reason, displayed an inordinate interest in our girl-filled household, she maintained a strength and dignity that we can only hope to emulate. Mom's calm demeanour and subtle dispensing of practical and wise advice provided us with a roadmap for our lives. If only we were always smart enough to take that advice! But no matter how far some of us happened to stray off course every now and then, we always knew there was a safe harbour at home.

Family was always Mom's first priority. Her life was dedicated to supporting her husband, the Canadian soldier who took her out of the war-ravaged but very urban city of her birth and transported her to a tiny, remote village on an island in the Bay of Fundy; and to the nine kids he eventually provided her with. Mom also stayed true to her Dutch family, who, except for oldest sister Marie, who decided to remain in Holland, she helped immigrate to Canada. Her last sign of recognition, just hours before her death, was to respond with a smile to the voice of her youngest brother.

Mom always wanted to somehow make a difference in this world. She did that, participating in various local organizations over the years, and continues to do that on a larger scale as her legacy lives on in the endeavours of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to make the world a better place.

Mom is survived by her husband of seventy-seven years, Raymond Robicheau. Her children, Ben (Randi), Rikki (Ralph), Amara (Jeff), Judy (Paul), Virginia (Blair), Janet (Jeff), Ruth (Tim), Joyce (Wouter), and John (Vinola), as well as her sisters, Dini and Frieda, and her brothers, Gerry, Frits, and Ben. She was predeceased by her sister Marie and her brother Johannes, her niece Deena Brooks, and her grandson Simon Bolstad. She got much enjoyment from, and was greatly adored by, her 13 grandchildren, her numerous great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

Cremation has taken place. No services are planned at this time. For anyone wishing to make a gesture in memory of Riekie Robicheau, it would be appreciated if donations could be made to:

Fidelis House in Kentville at  https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/27786?v2=true

The Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia at  https://alzheimer.ca/ns/en/donate

Jeff and Viola Baker's Ride Across Canada to Raise Money for Alzheimer Research at  https://www.gofundme.com/f/xcanada-fundraiser-for-alzheimers-research?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook