Dawn Marjorie Rithaler

October 9th, 2022

Dawn Marjorie Rithaler died peacefully at Fraserview Retirement Community, her home for 5 years, on Sunday, October 9, 2022.  She was in her 95th year.  Family was with her to the end.  She will be missed and remembered by her daughter Shelley and husband Bob, her son Donald and wife Pat, six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.  Also keeping her memory are her brother George and wife Linda, sisters-in-law Judy and Naomi and many nieces and nephews. 

Mom had many interests throughout her life.  She loved flowers picked from her garden.  She was a great reader.  She loved to travel.  Warm, sunny climates were her always her first choice.  Many winters were spent in Mexico and she lived on and off for a good number of years in several Southeast Asian countries with her husband John.  She was a serious painter in her younger years and came back to it fairly often through her life.  The Buddha paintings she completed during her years in Bhutan are of special note.  Mom spent many hours on golf courses around the world and at home.  She played bridge and other card games and was often the winner.  She loved a good jigsaw puzzle.  Mom sewed many of her own clothes through the years.  Her appearance was always very important to her.  She was a welcoming hostess and was comfortable in any social situation.  She loved her cup of coffee, tea or a drink and an afternoon or evening of catching up on the news with family or friends.   

Mom was always involved and busy in her life.  She had a twinkle in her eye and a great sense of humour.  On the other hand, she had her feisty side and didn’t mince her words.   Mom had a zest for life that rubbed off on all of us, so it was very hard to see her fading away from us as the symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease progressed and gradually took her from us.

At Mom’s request, there will be no service.  Donations can be made, in her memory, to the Alzheimer Society of British Columbia, Diabetes Canada or a charity of your choice.

Messages:

We met John & Dawn in Rangoon Burma in the mid 70's and became lifelong friends. They helped to teach us bridge there. Following retirement some 20 years ago we would get together with them on a regular basis every month or so taking turns as host for dinner and bridge. When Dawn's memory started to go we continued to visit until almost the end. RIP Dawn We loved you

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