Rita Margaret Jones Eleiter was the youngest of Henry and Emma Jones’ 12 children. The Joneses were a big, happy and loving family and mum loved regaling everyone with stories from her working-class childhood. Her happy memories are a testament to the resilience of the Jones family, considering the hardships of life before and during the war, and the fact that a very young Rita, along with her sisters and niece were evacuated to the countryside for several years. Rita later travelled to Canada for a year’s working holiday and ended up staying for good after falling in love with our dad Walter. Dad somehow managed to turn the sweater-set-and-pearl-wearing Rita into a partner in his adventures, and as children we were fortunate enough to go with them on many wonderful camping/fishing/canoeing outings. They also danced a mean jitterbug, which is likely one of the first things they will do once they see each other again. Mum never stopped connecting with her British family and it was one of her proudest accomplishments that she remained close to so many of them, and that her children and grandchildren continue to forge those connections.
Mum has been a dancer, a camper, a salesgirl, and a manager. She loved dogs, loved to swim, cooked amazing dinners for her family, which were always there waiting for us after a day out skiing with Wally. She was a volunteer for decades and had a soft spot for ‘the elderly’. It is no surprise that with her beautiful voice, one of her favourite activities was singing, and she treasured the memories and friendships made during her years with the ‘Shady Ladies’ from Shades of Harmony, in London, Ontario. She continued to sing after moving to BC and enjoyed her time with the Century House singers in New Westminster.
Mum’s greatest gifts were her love and friendship to those she cared about. Her telephone greetings of “ ‘ello my dahling”, her faithful early morning vocal renditions of ‘Happy Birthday’ to all of her family, and her often asked “ ‘are you alright then love?”, will echo within all of us forever.
Mum was predeceased by Dad in 2009. She was the last surviving of the original 12 Jones siblings. She is survived by her three children Kim (Ralph Belle), Glenn, and David (Amelia), and by her beloved grandchildren Joshua (Erika) Belle, Jessica Belle (Allan Kostyniuk), Michael Belle (Nicole Guterres), Nicholas Belle, Jonah and Aubrie Eleiter, and great grandchildren Elisabeth, Augustus and Lucy.
We would like to thank the many people who showed kindness to our mum as her health was deteriorating, including staff on both sides of Harmony Court in Burnaby, SimpeQ, Burnaby Home Health, Doctors Bradford, O’Connor and Bhui. Much love goes out to her dear friends and family in Britain, Ontario, and BC.
If you would like to donate to a cause in honour of mum, please consider the CNIB. The best thing you can do to honour mum’s memory is to hold true to her most important value – be kind to those around you.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Rita Margaret Jones Eleiter June 16 1931 December 9 2021..
Décès pour la Ville: Vancouver, Province: Colombie britanique