Thank you for including us via zoom in a beautiful memorial ceremony for Mientje. Lives send ripples into the world, and Mientje’s reverberate still… Such an inspiring person in her strength of will, intellect, and thoughtfulness. My brother Robert and I got to know the van Riel family through the friendships of our parents. I really appreciate the seeds of creativity and independent thinking that Mientje planted which have blossomed in her children. I remember visits as a child to the van Riel household, and spontaneously being included in theatre with Renee and Gwen, and years later by Greg in film production. These all strike me as living true to life’s curiousity and creative nature. That truth to life is what I felt from Mientje, and this was one of the affirmations I felt for my own creative and adventurous desires. She was also kind and courageous in hiring me, as an utter novice, to build her an outdoor breakfast table, and tiled woodstove platform, in her co-op flat! When she and her family visited us in the country, it was like a revelation when I was invited to join them for a naked dip and relaxation at a…

Sending condolences and so much love to the whole family. My experience with Mickey was witnessing her as a grandmother to Michael. Growing up I babysat for (and was in many ways unofficially adopted by) Greg and Sarah and would spend quite a bit of time with her over the years when she visited. I always looked forward to her bold and kind personality filling up the house around the holidays. She was a strong, often serious person; which made seeing her silly and mischievous spark just that much more special. I remember the excitement of finally being old enough to share a generous glass of rum with her at christmas like it was yesterday. She will be missed greatly by so many….

Mrs Van Riel was like a second mother to me especially in my younger years.  My family bought a cottage on Dorval Island in 1958.  I think our first full summer there was 1959.  I was 3 years old.  The Van Riels were our next door neighbours. Mrs Van Riel introduced herself to my mother.  She said she had children too and the two mothers and our two families became the closest friends from youngest child to parents. I have one story of how I really wanted a pair of black high top sneakers because I had seen some cool kid wearing them.  My mom hated those sneakers and did not want me wearing them.  She had bought me low rise white tennis shoes.  She said I could not chose my own shoes because I didn’t even know how to tie my own shoe laces.  I went next door to my friends house all distraught and told Greg what had happened.  Greg shared my plight with Mrs Van Riel.  She said “It’s easy.  I’ll show you how” and she did. I went back home and showed my mom that I could now tie my shoes.  She was surprised but…

Testing 🙂…