Category: R

Retza, Margaret #1938 *

Honoured by Jack Retza.

Margaret Retza “Mugsie” was born on October 9th, 1938, in Timmins Ontario. As a
youngster she moved to Chapleau where she attended both Elementary and High
School. This is also where she learned to figure skate. In 1957, she met Jack Retza, the love her life and husband for 46 years. Jack and Mugsie spent many years in Ontario where Jack worked in the mines and Mugsie raised their two boys Riel and DJ.

Later in life, they all moved to Stewart, B.C.. Mugsie taught figure skating, shot moose, fished on the ocean, and according to her brother, Joe Longpre, she shot two ducks (in flight) in a row, while in a moving boat, with a .22!

Mugsie had an adventurous spirit; and spent a great deal of time on the ocean. She was incredibly organized; and had the knowledge and skill to operate a huge boat, bait hooks, run downriggers, cook fantastic fresh fish, prepare kids for bed, and put up with the stench of the kids who rubbed herring behind their ears all day because her husband said it was lucky.

Later, Jack and Mugsie lived and operated a large orchard in Oliver, B.C.. Relatives who visited quickly learned that the Retza philosophy of life didn’t only include play; you had to work hard too! Folks who showed up and started heading to the beautiful outdoor swimming pool would be intercepted with a sharp order to plant some trees…. “The tractors over there”. Anyone trying the passive aggressive route “I can’t do that”, would only be met with a level gaze (and Mugsie’s finger still pointing at the tractor) that said “Oh, you’ll figure it out”. Mugsie taught us all the meaning of “work-hard, then play hard”.

Jack and Mugsie moved to Campbell River, B.C. for a few years, enjoying the ocean life once again. Afterwards, they purchased a home on Cluculz Lake, B.C..
They embarked on a terrific amount of work to transform their beautiful home into the breathtaking place it is today. There are many people who still have recurring dreams that involve pouring bags of cement for concrete!

Margaret Retza was a vibrant person, full of life, energy, and most of all spice. She was an extremely hard worker. She was fearless and would take on any task knowing that hard work leads to success. If Mugsie said something was going to get done, then you could guarantee it would be. Mugsie was no-nonsense, and if you crossed her, you knew it. At the same time, she had a big heart, and a lot of compassion.

Mugsie taught many lessons in her life. She showed people the benefits of balancing hard work and good fun. She showed how a husband and wife can work as a team to accomplish great things. She raised a wonderful family, extended her love to foster children, and she shared her experience by raising and educating many others.

Rawlings, Jill Ann #1824 *

Honoured by the Lisk family.

My sister was many things to many people.  She was a daughter to my parents, Barry and Teresa-Jo Rawlings, a sister to myself, Diane Newton and Joan Rawlings, a mother to her son, Terry Seguin and a wife to Chuck Seguin and then, Kenny Wilson.  Throughout her life, many were left with a valued friend.

Jill was the third of four girls in our family.  I am the eldest, and being 5 years older than Jill, meant that I was in high school when she was in grade school, so we were involved in different circles at that time in our lives.  The next thing I knew, she got married and moved out west.
When she moved back, we began to get to know each other as adults. We were the only siblings living here at the time, and I was happy to have her back.

As a child, she was a day-dreamer, often not hearing us when we spoke to her because she was lost in a dream. She was very social, but always preferred to blend into the crowd. Being the center of attention was not the place for her.  So, surprise parties were out of the question.

She loved to run, play badminton and basketball, but she excelled at volleyball. This game was her passion. She played in high school and went on to play in open and ladies leagues, throughout the city. She even dragged me to the Waterfront to play in Beach Volleyball Tournaments. We had a blast!  The Waterfront was one of her favourite places. We spent many hours there, sitting at the beach, walking our dogs, enjoying the ducks, talking, laughing and giggling, and thoroughly enjoying ourselves.  It is fitting that she will be remembered on the Pergola there.

Jill lived most of her life in North Bay.  A lot of our time was spent at the ballpark, watching her son Terry.  She enjoyed watching him excel at sports, introducing him to volleyball as soon as he could hold the ball.  It was something, to watch her hit the ball to him and have him bump it back to her perfectly, at four years old.  We watched him play many games as part of the Varsity teams at St.Joseph’s/Scollard Hall and Nipissing University. She was very proud of his skill and talent.  He resembled her and I still see that today.

My sister was a very private and sensitive person, with an inept ability to read people’s emotions.  We would enter a room and she would eventually know who was upset and needed someone to listen. These people would migrate to my sister and end up sharing their situations with her.  Being kind and empathetic, she would always listen.  It was challenging for her to keep her distance, emotionally, but she thought someone had to listen.

An amazing sense of humour, got her through many of life’s ups and downs.  We would spend an afternoon together and laugh, incessantly, at life’s situations and crazy TV shows we had watched.  She would imitate Scotty from Star Trek and we would roar.

During the second half of her life, she decided she liked to fish, enjoying the peace and tranquility that was involved with the sport.  At the cottage in Bracebridge, she would spend hours on the dock casting, rarely catching a fish.  Mostly, she caught weeds and it was my job to take the weeds off, so she could cast again.  She caught her limit in weeds!

The way she cared for animals was a shining example of the compassion she showed in her life.  She would take me to the Humane Society and we would walk the dogs from the shelter.  She felt they needed to get out,  for a change of scenery and then, would want to take them all home.
Whether it was a chipmunk at the campground, the birds in the trees in her yard or the deer in the field next to her home, she enjoyed them all.  I’ll never forget when she told me she had purchased a dog, at the 400 Market in Barrie.  When I finally saw Spike, he was a little ball of white fur with
a very prominent under-bite. Then she said to me, ’“Don’t you love his beautiful smile!”’.  Really?  He was the runt of the litter and the last puppy in the box.  Jill had a soft spot for the underdog and could not leave him there all alone. That pretty much sums up the way my sister lived
her life.

In the last year of her life, she fought a brave battle, with dignity and courage.  She passed away, from Melanoma, on April 25, 2009.

Jill did not design tall buildings or run a huge corporation, but in her own private way, she lived her life with love and compassion for all living things.  If I live my life with half the integrity she had, I’ll consider it a success.  Not a day goes by that I don’t think of her.  Until we meet again – my sister, my friend.

Dale Rawlings-Lisk.

RTO/ERO District 43, Retired Teachers #43 *

Nipissing Retired Teachers – Our members past, present and future.

“Excellence in teaching”

RTO/ERO Nipissing District 43 is an organization whose membership includes retired educators who have chosen to become members of the Retired Teachers of Ontario.

In 2011, over 65,000 members provincially benefit from comprehensive health plans, a social network, a travel program, political advocacy, a professional magazine, bilingual services, as well as providing scholarships & “Service To Others” (STO) Awards in the community and much more.

The RTO/ERO leaf honours those (past, present and future) who have and will continue to provide
excellence in teaching in North Bay and District.

Teachers are traditionally community builders.  They are dedicated to their students and their school community and so we say a hearty “Thank you and well done!” to all our colleagues.

Through the efforts of District 43 RTO the North Bay and area community will continue to be blessed.

Rainer, Ida #1931 *

Ida Rainer 1931-2002

Ida Rainer “Oma” packed a lot into her 71 years. Her husband of 52 years, Leo, was the love of her life, while her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the joy of her life. Her legacy was her sense of family, sense of community and work ethic.

The oldest of eight children and a mother figure at an early age, she left her birthplace of Vienna, Austria, at the young age of 23 to build a better life with her husband in Canada. Starting with nothing, Ida and Leo worked diligently to provide a good home for their growing family.

After settling in North Bay, Ida and Leo were among the founding members of the Germania Club.

From cleaning other people’s homes to working at the deli at Dominion to running her own store (Dalesview Delicatessen), she taught her children that it didn’t matter the job, it mattered that it was done well. Education was crucial for her family.
Ida had a zest for life – fun came in so many forms, whether dancing with her husband, travelling with her friends, or playing games with her children and grandchildren. Hugs and laughs were plentiful when Oma was around. A willing babysitter for all her grandchildren, she and Leo purchased a cottage so that her treasured grandchildren could visit every summer.

She was always smiling. People were drawn to her. It was her honest interest in people that made her business such a success, although she was also a very shrewd businesswoman and no one would out-negotiate Ida.

Food and Ida were synonymous – she was an amazing cook. She took requests for everyone’s favourite birthday cake. All troubles could be fixed by a good meal “Lots of vitamins, no additives”.

Loyal to a fault, she could be fierce in defense of her family and friends.
As much as she loved travelling, she loved coming home to North Bay. Her house was her pride and joy. She helped build it – mixing mortar, hauling bricks, planting trees. Ida was meticulously clean – you could eat off her floors.
Oma was Oma. She loved to laugh, she loved to talk.
“If you don’t believe in angels you haven’t met my Oma”

… Ida’s grandchildren.