Obituary of Henrica Theresa Meulemeesters

In her 91st year, after a short illness, Henrica ("Rica") Theresa Meulemeesters, née Bevers, passed peacefully on Sunday morning, December 9, 2018 at University Hospital, London with family at her side. Rica was the last member of a double wedding ceremony to pass away. On April 9, 1958 (one day shy of her 30th birthday) Rica married Martin (d. 1984) in the same ceremony as her brother, Jan, married Fien van Delst, in their collective home town of Boekel, Netherlands. All four had known each other from childhood. Right after the marriage Rica and Martin set out for Canada where in the spring of 1958 they settled in London, Ontario and raised their family of three: Frank (Tena), Joanne Doré (Best Friend, Nelson Dundas, d. December 5, 2018) and Nancy French (Laird). Rica was beloved Oma to Frank's children: Courtney Goddard (Matt) and Ryan (Kristin); Joanne's children: Taylor and Dallas; and Nancy's children: Jaiden and Liah. She was also blessed to be a "great-Oma" to Courtney's children (Addieson and Deacon) and Ryan's children (Riley and Audrey). For more than 50 years Rica was a devoted parishioner of St. Michael's Catholic Church with her preferred pew being 2nd back from the front, diagonally right of the pulpit - Rica always wanted to be seated on the right hand side of God if possible. Oma will be greatly missed by her family in Canada and the Netherlands (Jolanda and Ryan and their respective children) but the example of love and faith that she lived will remain with them forever. Visitors will be received at John T. Donohue Funeral Home, 362 Waterloo Street at King Street, on Tuesday evening from 6-8 o'clock.  Funeral Mass at St. Michael's Church, 511 Cheapside Street, on Wednesday morning at 11 o'clock.  Interment in St Peter's Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, donations to The Parish of St. Michael's or Missionaries Of Charity Inc. (Mother Teresa's charity) would be appreciated by the family.