We are devastated about the unexpected loss of our wife, mother and grandma. Rita was born on July 2 ^nd 1950 in Marken, an island in the Netherlands. Marken always stayed close to her heart and she visited as often as she could. She lived an adventurous life with lots of moving and reinventing herself. In her 68 years she was a dairy farmer, receptionist, accountant, real estate agent, home health nurse and goat farmer, just to name a few, at some point in her life. She continued studying and educating herself. The last year of her life she was the glue that held our family together after Jake was diagnosed with brain cancer. Although she herself was diagnosed with breast cancer and received treatment earlier this year that didn't stop her from being the primary care giver and advocate for Jake. Rita loved to read, sew, make beautiful needlepoint pieces, watch historic shows or movies on tv, play the piano, write stories and beat us all in games like Rummikub, candy crush and word crossy. You could wake her up for a fun shopping trip to Walmart. Going to the beach with just the "women and children" was an event that she looked forward to all year. Family meant everything to her. When some of us decided to emigrate there was no question in her mind. We will all go together! So at 48 years old she moved to the USA to start a whole new life again. Distance was never a problem. The Netherlands was just a plane ride away and the (grand) children just a car ride away, even if that meant 9 hours in the car. Her greatest joy was when the whole family came together around the table, with red wine, French cheese and home cooked food.

There is no love

Like your love

And no other

Could give more love

There is nowhere

Unless you're there

All the time

All the way

(by Bryan Adams)

We are going to miss her so much……….

We will have a memorial service for her at the First United Methodist Church, located at 340 Hawthorne Road, Elkin, NC 28621, on Friday, Oct. 19, 2018 starting at 11:00 AM with a reception to follow afterwards.

Jacob Schot

Ard, Monique, Jason, Brandon and Jessica Koopman

Arno, Lisa, Carmen and Jordan Schot

Online condolences may be made at www.jkennedyfsl.com

John Kennedy, funeral director is assisting the Schot