Hendrika "Rita" (Van Niedek) Gainford

It is with heavy hearts we announce that Rita Gainford was called home to be with her Lord and Saviour, surrounded by her loving family, on Monday, September 30th, 2024.

 Beloved wife of Richard Gainford, Rita was born Nov 4th, 1954, in Kingston, Ontario. She was eldest daughter to Bill and the late Grace (Huyser) Van Niedek, beloved mother to Rick (Kathleen), Sarah (David), Shaun (Julie), Megan (Dustin) and proud Oma to 14 beautiful grandkids who she was extremely proud of. Rita is also survived by her siblings; Casey (Glenda), Pat (Bill), Bob (Deb) and Lorraine (Mike), as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Rita was predeceased by her sons Ian (2007) and Jeff (2008), plus her mother Gracie (2015).

Long term resident of Fort Macleod and Lethbridge Alberta, Rita had a very strong work ethic and held many roles throughout her life. She was a well-known driver for the Fort Macleod and distract handi- bus. She also worked as a housekeeper for the Fort Macleod Hospital. One of the things Rita enjoyed the most was being a cook at the Fort Macleod Pioneer Lodge for 7 years. There she received many compliments for the outstanding home cooked meals she prepared for the residents. Although Rita loved to cook, she found her true calling working in the Fort Macleod Palliative Care department where she brought true comfort to those in their time of need.

Richard and Rita had recently celebrated their Golden 50th wedding anniversary this past November. During the celebration, they shared many stories of adventures they experienced together, and they offered advice to their family and friends on what makes a successful happy marriage.

 Some of Rita’s greatest attributes was her honesty, as she was never afraid to tell us as it was. She loved to laugh and taught her children from a young age to laugh lots and laugh often. She taught us to treat everyone with kindness and respect, live every blessed day to the fullest, and to never take anything for granted. Even with Rita’s declining health issues and suffering from chronic pain, our mother was never one to complain and she always took the time to ask other people how they were doing. The loss of our loving mother is hard but we take comfort knowing in our hearts she is safe in the loving hands of her Lord and that she has been re-united with her beloved Sons, Mother and Mother in Law Lola Gainford, “Oh  what a reunion”!  Her worldly struggles are now over, and she is at peace.

Thank you, Mom, for everything you have done for us,

and until we meet again; 

'We Love you more.... to the stars and back!'

Please come and join the family to celebrate this amazing woman on Monday, October 7th,2024 with her service taking place at 11:00am, at  Christensen Salmon Generations Funeral Home, 703  13th St N, Lethbridge Alberta. Reception will follow.

Live-stream will be available and a link will appear below this obituary 15 minutes before service time.

In Lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Lethbridge Mental Health and Addiction Program, or to the Sjogren’s Society of Canada in Rita’s name.

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