Rita passed away Monday, September 6, 2010 at Sunset Manor, in Collingwood. She was born in Holland on May 19, 1923 and in 1952 immigrated to Canada with her husband Jan Anthony Grolman and their two children. In her early years in Canada, she was an avid “rockhound” and was very active in the Central Canadian Federation of Mineralogical Societies. In her later years, she lived in Nobleton where she founded the environmental advocacy group Nobleton Alert. Despite her frustration with the progression of dementia, she valiantly continued to speak out for the protection of the environment. She was an inspiration in her efforts to have as small an ecological footprint as possible. Rita is survived by: her son Robert Grolman, his wife Nicole and their son Alex; her daughter Marleen Grolman, her husband Scott Lorriman and their two children Brad and Alaina; and, her son Andy Grolman and his two sons Barry and Terry. Rita was predeceased by her 17 year old granddaughter Ingrid Grolman, for whom she planted a tree outside the Nobleton Public Library in memory of all children who never survive to adulthood. Rita was a prodigious supporter of environmental causes.
Private family interment Nobleton Community Cemetery. The family will receive their friends at the Egan Funeral Home, 203 Queen Street S. (Hwy. 50), Bolton (905-857-2213) Friday, September 10 from one o’clock until time of funeral service in the chapel at 2 o’clock.
If you would like to make a donation, it would be Rita’s wish that it be to Ecojustice Canada (formerly Sierra Legal Defence Fund), 30 St. Patrick Street, Suite 900, Toronto M5T 3A3, or any environmental organization of your choosing.
Condolences for the family may be offered at www.EganFuneralHome.com
Court Saunders
Rita has passed but her memory will always be with me. We shared
many moments together on the rock piles in search of minerals. But
most of all, the times around the campfire at night and fellowship
dinners will always be remembered. Rita always liked to share a laugh together and her character was eternally jubilant, caring, and
loving. I visited Rita many times at her home in Nobleton where we
rehashed old memories and lived our past over again.
Good-bye Rita!
Wilkins Family
OJ, Scott, Brad and Alaina,
So sorry to hear about your Mom’s passing. Our thoughts are with you and your family at this sad time.
Love
Pat, Steve, Jessica and Colin
Greg King
So sorry to hear about your Mom’s passing. Our thoughts are with you, Robert, Andy and your families. Greg, Preston and Emily-Claire
Vicki Stone
To Robert, Marlene, and Andy:
Your mom had such a great spirit! Fun, hardworking, energetic, and so quick to laugh. She loved to laugh! I remember her laughing doubled over until the tears came to her eyes.
She was a straightforward, direct woman, so differenet from my parents. Sometimes I did not what to say in response to her direct nature but I always basked in her attentions to me, a very shy child.
She lived a full life.
Vicki Stone
Jurriaan Grolman, Amsterdam, Netherlands
to the Grolman family,
Gecondoleerd met het overlijden van Tante Rita.
Ik herinner mij haar als een levendige tante met wie veel te lachen was, Zij was impulsief en enthousiast. Bij haar bezoek aan Nederland (mijn Ouders) bracht zij voor iedereen bijzondere stenen mee. Mooi glad geslepen en prachtige kleuren.
Jammer dat onze paden elkaar niet nog eens zullen kruisen…
groet, Jurriaan
Nanja Grolman
Als kind herinner ik me haar als een bijzondere tante. Altijd in voor gekke spelletjes vlak voordat we naar bed moesten (m’n moeder vond dat maar zo, zo…) . Door het overlijdensbericht word ik zomaar een eind terug in de tijd geworpen…
Ik wens alle family heel veel goeds toe en sterkte bij het gemis van Tante Rita.
In gedachten ben ik bij jullie morgen!!
Liefs, Nanja
Art and Fran Ditschun
Scott, OJ, Brad and Alaina
We were sorry to hear about OJ’s Mom. We send our thoughts and our sympathy to you and your family in this time of sadness.
Art and Fran
Michael Stone, Windsor
Hello Robert, Marleen and Andy.
I’m so sorry to hear of your Mom’s passing. I have many fond memories of all of the Grolmans and Port Stanley. I’ll never forget going tobagganing on the golf course on New Year’s Eve! And of course there were Rita’s incredible fried bananas. Wonderful memories.
I hope you and your families are all well.
All the best,
Mike
Tim and Ele
OJ, Scott, Brad and Alaina,
We’re truly sorry to hear about the passing of your mother, OJ. We hope that the fond memories you share and the support of friends will help you through this difficult time.
Our thoughts are with you,
Ele and Tim
Mary Papps
Marleen and Family
I am very sorry to hear about the passing of your mom.
My thoughts are with you all.
Mary
Lynda Laceby
O J and Scott,
I remember chatting with you about your mom a few weeks ago, OJ, and was sorry to read of her passing in the local papers.Although I never met her, I recognize her picture so must have seen her around town. She sounds like such an interesting person and I’m sure she was a great mentor to you, OJ.
Our sincerest sympathies,
Lynda and Carolyn
Jacqueline gaus
Ik was via het net op zoek naar mijn tante, toen ik haar naam intypte kreeg ik het bericht in beeld dat ze kort geleden is overleden, wat een droevig gevoel. We hebben elkaar jammer genoeg niet meer kunnen spreken.
Ik wens Marleen Robert Andy en alle familie sterkte!
Lieve groet,
Jacqueline
Abraham Keizerwaard
Dear family,
On behalf of the family of Freetje Hirschel, i’m researching the history of this family.
Frederik Hirschel was a classmate of your mother and I found a letter from your mother in which she remembered Freetje and compared her death with the passing away of your sister. Both girls died at the age of 17. Do you happen to have some more information of the schooltime of your mother in the Netherlands during WW2? With kind regatds,
Abraham