Obituary of Diderika Rie Engel SCHENK

August 28, 1929 – Rotterdam August 10, 2017 – Calgary, Alberta Rie beloved mother of Ria, Derrick and Raymond, AB, passed away on August 10, 2017 at the age of 87 years. Diderika Engel Schenk (nee Tinke), or Rie as she preferred, was born August 28, 1929 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Rie was one of seven children. She grew up and went to school in Rotterdam. The family struggled through the Nazi occupation during the Second World War, but made it through. Rie married her first husband Harry Boivin in 1951 and they moved to Canada that same year and settled in Edmonton. They had three kids, Ria, Derrick and Raymond. Religion was a major part of Rie’s life, growing up attending a Christian Reformed church, having her children baptized and raising them in the faith. Rie started work at Simpson Sears in 1966 and worked there for 18 years as a sales associate. Harry Boivin died from cancer in November, 1970. Rie married Gerry Schenk in 1975. After both retired, they moved to Victoria in 1987. During retirement, Rie and Gerry travelled overseas and extensively throughout the States and spent many winters there, mainly in Yuma, Arizona. Gerry died of a heart attack in June of 1998. After a few years, Rie moved to Calgary to be closer to Ria, Raymond and grandchildren. Rie loved to go for walks two to three times a day in the summer in Calgary and collect cans and bottles. She continued to spend her winters in Yuma, living in the trailer she and Gerry had shared. In Yuma, she would walk and swim daily. There was the all-important Happy Hour at 5:00 PM (wherever she lived) where the rye and ginger ale would come out along with snacks. Another food group favorite was chocolate; Rie would be thrilled to find a chocolate Easter egg in October that had been hidden in a jacket pocket months earlier by Ria. In the last six years, Rie became a big fan of Murdoch and looked forward to watching his shows two or three times a day. Rie loved to dance socially also and volunteered at many of the dances in the vacation park in Yuma. Other hobbies were knitting and reading. She continued to do all those until her stroke in December, 2016. Rie was also a fan of tile rummy and played it often. In fact, she won the last game she played only two weeks before her passing. Rie struggled with mobility after the stroke and suffered declining health in the late spring and summer of this year. Rie stayed strong in her Christian faith throughout her life and regularly attended church wherever she lived, even if it meant going there with her walker. Rie is survived by two sisters, five children and step-children, 17 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. We will all miss her greatly but take comfort knowing that she has gone to be with our Lord. Funeral Services will be held at Lutheran Church Of The Good Shepherd (13811 Deer Ridge Dr S.E.) on Friday, August 18th, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. Reception to follow at the Church. Condolences may be forwarded through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In Lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Alberta, 200, 119 – 14th Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1Z6 Telephone: (403) 264-5549, www.heartandstroke.ca. In living memory of Rie Schenk, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road S.E., Calgary, AB Telephone: 403-256-9575.