RITA RYCKENBOER

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RITA RYCKENBOER

(nee COUTURE)

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of our mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Rita Ryckenboer, on Saturday, May 27, 2023 at Riverview Health Centre surrounded by family.

Rita is survived by her children: Roger (Lorna - nee Lawson) and granddaughters, Melissa and Kelly, and great-granddaughter Aliyanna; Lynn Laurier (Ronn) and grandsons, Joel (Amanda), Kyle (Joelle); Carol Ryckenboer-Barsalou (Paul) and grandchildren, Lydia, Avery and Delaney.

Rita is predeceased by her husband Adelin, her parents, Adélard and Laura (nee Lamoureux), her siblings, Orion (Marie), Laure (August), Marie-Claire Berube (Fern), Gaston, Ubald (Irene), Simon (Armande), Agathe, Germaine LaFleur (Marcel), Suzanne LaFrenière (John) and Evariste (Angèle), her son Kelly Ryckenboer and grandson Daniel Ryckenboer.

Born in Meyronne, Saskatchewan in 1934, Rita was the youngest of 12 children. While her full name was Marie, Hella, Beatrice, Rita, Marthe Couture, thanks to the input of her older siblings, Mom selected Rita as her chosen name. In 1941 Rita moved to Saint Boniface (Winnipeg), Manitoba where her father began work for CN Railway. She attended l ’Académie Saint-Joseph, graduating in 1951. She started her career with the Federal Government and then moved to Empire Soap, later becoming Swift Adhesives where she worked for 28 years as a bookkeeper until her retirement in 1991.

Rita loved music, dancing and family. She met the love of her life on an arranged date and married Adelin Ryckenboer on October 8, 1955. Their life was filled with camping in the summer, visiting family in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, trips to Ste. Martine, Quebec or anywhere there was family. In retirement they spent winters in San Juan, Texas where many days were spent line dancing or at happy hours, day visits to South Padre Island or crossing the border to Progresso, Mexico with Texas snowbird friends. Summers were spent at their lakefront home on Lee River just outside Lac Du Bonnet, Manitoba where they spent time with family and friends, often playing a game of Belgian bowling, crib or on their pontoon boat. In her later years Rita stayed at Dakota House in Winnipeg where she developed friendships with many of the residents.

A celebration of Rita’s life will be held at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, June 10, 2023 at Glen Lawn Funeral Home, 455 Lagimodiere Bvld. Interment will follow at Glen Lawn Cemetery. Those wishing to attend virtually may do so at: https://afterword.com/stories/rita-ryckenboer

Special thanks to Lynn and Carol who took turns staying with Mom, Roger who could always make Mom laugh, her table 18 friends, staff and residents at Dakota House who checked in on her and supported her as well as the wonderful staff at Riverview Health Centre Palliative Care Ward.

In lieu of flowers, donations to CancerCare Foundation of Manitoba or your favourite charity are appreciated.

Family and friends may sign a book of condolence at www.glenlawn.ca.



Glen Lawn Funeral Home

204-982-7550

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 03, 2023