Some of the things that Rita loved were people, nature and music. She had a unique way of fostering your trust and trusting you in return. I remember a trip to Loon Lake when we went across the frozen lake and me being a city slicker did not even think twice that some parts of the ice were not as solid as others even though I cannot swim. I just knew that she had full confidence. Another occasion found us heading to Whistler. Me driving for the first time to Whistler in a Tiny Hondamatic and Rita not at all worried that we might veer off the highway, but I did occasionally notice her face getting blushed sometimes!I met Rita while I was
at CIBC and and she made our work so much fun.
I am sure that Rita is in heaven and as one of her favorite singers,Lionel Ritchie sang, is" dancing on the ceiling"
Rita brought joy to anyone that met her & didn't care if some didn't appreciate her love of life & unique humor. I will not forget her infectious giggle, especially when we were stressed at work, lol. and her kindness of taking time with my girls for field trips when they visited their father in the annual Ottawa-Vancouver summer trip. I told them stories about Rita when we worked together as she offered to spend time with them even taking them to the animal farm (they were very young:5 & 3yrs old) they looked forward to outings with her, making their trip far away from home a little less scary, a big help to me at the time.
Rita always had interesting animal stories; I remember seeing the new couch that she patched back together after her own Dobi promptly decided to eat it, the time the bear smashed her freezer in her garage and ate the bread, or the day I went to pick up my typewriter at Rita's & a mother racoon & babies decided to crawl up, touching my legs, to 'inspect' me on the front steps, saying,'Rita.what do I do now?' to which she replied,"Absolutely nothing"..I stood still until they were bored with me & I could go home. Rita loved her family, life, nature & animals.
