Aletta "Lida" Gertruida Mentz

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Aletta Gertruida Mentz was born in the rural South African town of Brits on December 1st, 1947, to Willem Lodewyk Johannes Schoeman and Johanna Jolena Dorothea Gertruida Janse van Rensburg (Ouma Poppie). Known affectionately as Lida, she was a remarkable woman who touched the lives of many with her warmth, kindness, and unwavering strength. She will be remembered for her vivacious spirit, her infectious laughter, sense of humor and her boundless love for her family and friends.



Lida was the youngest by seven years of four sisters who have all preceded her to the here-after; Susanna “Zettie” Josina Maria Schoeman (Rossouw), Maria “Marie” Elizabetha Schoeman (Fourie), and Johanna “Joey” Helena Dorothea Gertruida Schoeman (Van Wyk). Lida never met her father, as he passed away 5 months prior to her birth. Her arrival was a surprise to everyone, and she kept on surprising all who were blessed to know her for the next 76 years. 



Lida’s childhood was spent on the farmlands of Brits near the Krokodil Rivier (Crocodile River). When she wasn’t trying to help her mother on the farm, she enjoyed riding horses, swimming and playing games like kleilat with her friends like Martha van Rensburg who lived on the neighboring farm. She had a veritable ark for pets as a child to include dogs, cats, chameleons, goats, snakes and a meerkat named Hendrik Verwoerd. 



After matriculating from Brits High School in 1965, Lida studied pharmacy at Pretoria Technikon, graduating in 1970. She majored in Chemistry and became a registered pharmacist upon graduation. Pharmacy was always in her blood, as a child one the favorite stores she visited was the local pharmacy, as her sisters worked there. After graduation, Lida worked as a pharmacist in Pretoria at Glenfair Pharmacy and Transmed Pharmacy until her life path was given a wider travel itinerary. 



Lida had known Arnold Mentz since childhood. They had both gone to the same elementary and high schools in Brits. Arnold had grown up on the farmlands of Brits as well. However, their love wouldn’t take full blossom until they both had moved to Pretoria for their tertiary studies. After completing his compulsory national service in the Navy, Arnold studied at the University of Pretoria, and would marry Lida before being called to serve in the South African Foreign Service as a diplomat for the Department of Trade and Industry. 



Because of Arnold’s career, Lida would have to put her career aspirations on the back burner for over 20 years. As the wife of a diplomat, she was not allowed to work as a pharmacist in foreign countries. She would instead focus on being a home maker, mother, and took every opportunity to leverage her pharmacy skills in service to various volunteer organizations. Amongst her many volunteer activities, Lida took great joy in the collecting, sorting, repacking, labeling and distributing of medicinal samples from medical doctors for distribution to clinics in Africa and Asia. Lida was also active with the American Red Cross, fund raising for the Siyabolela pre-primary school in Kleinmond and the BookSmart Foundation. 



During her marriage, Lida had two sons, Carl Willem Mentz and Arnold Johannes Mentz. Lida was a devoted mother, and she poured all her love and dedication into her family. It is often said that no parent should ever outlive their child. However, in 1981 the Mentz family was struck with the most unbearable tragedy as their youngest son Arnold (1975-1981) passed away from a viral infection, while they were serving in Buenos Aires. 



Lida had sacrificed her career goals to serve not only as Arnold’s partner and a stay-at-home mother, but she was also expected to serve as an exemplar for South African culture in the various postings the family were sent to. Lida being the intelligent and independent spirit that she was, initially found this new role to be difficult to master. However, with plenty of practice and mentoring from her fellow “Wives of” club members, she not only mastered the art of etiquette and hospitality, but she also set a high bar for all who strive to do things the “right way for the right reasons”. Emily Post would be proud. Lida served with distinction during postings in Washington, D.C. from 1973 until 1978, Buenos Aires, Argentina from 1978 until 1981, a return to Washington D.C. from 1983 - 1989 and finally to Istanbul, Turkey from 1989 until 1991. 


In 1991, Lida and Arnold returned to South Africa as Arnold retired from the foreign service and began his second career in the golf industry. They had moved to Port Edward on the lush green and hibiscus flower covered south coast of Kwa-Zulu Natal. Together, they owned and ran the Southbroom Golf Club Pro Shop, where Lida managed the Pro Shop and Arnold served as the PGA teaching professional. Lida would return to pharmacy work during this time as she worked as a locum (relief) pharmacist as needed for several local pharmacies in Port Edward, Margate as well as Shelly Beach. In 1996, Arnold was appointed Commissioner of the SA PGA Tour and after moving the PGA headquarters to Stellenbosch in the Western Cape region, Arnold and Lida settled in nearby Somerset-West. After Arnold left the PGA Tour in 2000, they eventually returned to Pro Shop ownership by co-owning and managing the Stellenbosch Golf Club Pro Shop. Lida and Arnold would divorce in 2006, and Lida would return to her career in Pharmacy. Lida worked at IHD Wholesale Pharmaceuticals and at Ikhwezi Community Clinic. 



After a health scare in 2013, Lida would return to America in 2014 to live with her son Carl, her grandson Connor Arnold Joseph Mentz and Carl’s wife Zheng Cao. Lida had taken on the mantle of being Ouma with the same energy, vigor and joy with which she approached everything in her life. She poured every ounce of love and support into Connor and her family that she possibly could. She left an indelible mark on the hearts of all who had the blessing to love her and know her. 



Lida had a passion for music and reading. They were activities that she would say “fed her soul”. It was rare to find her at home without a new book by her side or in her hand. She was voracious in her reading and there is nary a good book left in the local library that she has not read. In her downtime, she loved to sneak extra treats to Muti, the family bullmastiff, savor a wide variety of musical genres and was dedicated to her Clash of Clans guild. She was ever hopeful for a return to glory for her much maligned Redskins/WFT/Commanders football team and fervently rooted for the South African cricket and rugby teams. She enjoyed cooking a variety of dishes and her spaghetti bolognese will forever be one of our favorite meals. Lida was also very proficient in ordering-in-for-delivery! Lida was a member of various churches throughout her travels. Most notably with the 4th Presbyterian Church of Bethesda Maryland, and the McLean Bible Church Women’s bible study group.



In her final years, Lida valiantly battled against the scourge that is leukemia. She was always hopeful for a miracle but remained a realist about the outcome of her journey. She believed her pathway had been preordained by the Lord and had made her peace with the eventual reunion she would have with her parents, sisters, klein Arnold and other loved ones. In Lida’s own words “Having known what it is to be loved unconditionally by you all has been so very special to me and I want to hug you all and say I love you and thank you. I Love you all so much.” Lida passed away peacefully and without struggle on Saturday, February 10th 2024, with her loving family by her side. 



Lida will be deeply missed but never forgotten, she leaves behind a legacy of love, wisdom, and strength that will continue to live on. Her memory will continue to be a source of comfort and inspiration to all who were fortunate enough to know her. May she rest in peace, knowing that she was loved beyond measure and that her legacy will live on in the hearts of those she touched.