Reatha E. Roestenburg

I remember Reatha and Carl both, they were great people. I especially remember Reatha's love of gardening and a house full of nic-nac's. She was a fascinating woman with the patience of Job. I was sadden to hear of Carl's passing as well. God Bless the surviving children and the Roestenburg family.

Oh Nana, how much I miss you. Your garden will once bloom again, we will see to that. And we will find you there! Thank you for sharing your flowers, your friends, your (sometimes wickedly funny) sense of humor, your zest for life, your encouragement when my own Mom passed away years ago. We had so much fun chasing those fire engines down to see what was going on! The drives we took to the beautiful houses with their own magnificent gardens! (But, not as nice as yours, as yours was tended by such loving hands.) The lunches out or outside in your yard. Thank you for taking Justin and myself in as "blood". That means more to me than I can even say. And as for Alex, you were his only Grandma, but you more than made up for that! Both he and Justin have so many wonderful memories of you. Alex just loved beating down a path through the orchard to be able to have some lemonade and cookies while on your patio swing. Every time we go to the store, Alex will point out the gingersnap cookies and say how much he loved eating them at Nana's. Then we both start to tear up! He won't even eat them with me! It was you he wanted to be with. I thank you for that. Then there was Justin always up to no good in the orchard (except during water turn). I can't count how many times I took him for stitches! That big tough Marine called me from Okinawa, sobbing when he was told you had passed on. Both Alex and Justin had such a wonderful example in you. You taught them how to work (well, we're still working on Alex!) in such a loving way. I thank you for sharing with me your strong Testimony; I gain strength from it even now. Most of all, THANK YOU FOR CARL. He has your soft heart. I wanted to send you flowers on his birthday once more, but I never got the chance. Without a shadow of a doubt, I know you are so very happy. And I am happy for you! When I hear or read "enduring to the end", it is you I will think of. You've reached your reward. I love you so very much and thank you again for all the love you gave not just to me, but for my children as well. Love, Karen (with T.B.!)



P.S. Alex says, "I love you more!"

Happy Birthday Auntie Reatha!! May your family continue to honor you on this day. Reatha is a classy and elegant lady who would do anything she could for you. I have many fond memories of spending time with Reatha setting the time on her clock, or other odd jobs that I could do when I stopped by after work. We'd sit in her patio swing and chat for awhile, and she'd always try to give me some kind of treat. In my earlier years I remember spending time in her beautiful garden and the orchard playing and picking fruit. (Mostly playing though) Reatha had her trials, but she always smiled her way through them. What a great example of love and kindness. She's singing with the angels now in her beautiful soprano voice. I love her and miss her dearly. I can finally say, "I love you most" and not get any argument!! Much love,

My condolences to the Roestenburg family, and to Carl, her son. I worked for Salt Lake County Aging Services and met Mrs. Roestenburg in her home, in the setting where she loved to garden. I honor the dedication of her son Carl, whom I also met there.

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

my dearest mum-in-law, how you'll be missed, your sweet smile, your gentle voice and your kind loving spirt. You touched the hearts of all you came in contact with, you left footprint on my heart and tenderness in my soul, so specail are you to me and now its my turn to say "I love you more" thank you for being my mum-inlaw, my friend and for being you. xxxxxxxx

I want to share my love for my sweet aunt Reatha--such a woman of class, elegance, kindness and love. She always made me feel so welcome as she would say "hello fer fer" her nick name that she had for me, and i would hug her and smell her sweet scent. I loved to walk in her lovely garden and see the beautiful colors that surrounded me and i felt like i was ofter in my own secret garden. Reatha was always so kind to everyone and i loved to see the interaction she had with her family and especially my own mother, Lila. What a close family the Evans have been and i loved to see the tenderness that the sisters shared for one another. She will be missed and thought of often but I know that she is at peace with loved ones on the other side who were anxiously waiting her arrival. May we all follow in her footsteps in life with dignity, love and grace and forever keep her in our hearts until we meet again.

o My Sister Reatha.

I visualize loving arms wrapped around loved ones. The happy tears of joyous reunion, loved ones once again united never more to be separated.

Over the years I spent many, many happy times in Reatha’s home. Elegance and charm was the watchword. She loved beautiful objects of art, but none so precious as her children. Many hours were spent playing as children with nieces and nephews who seemed as my brothers and sisters. I remember being given home permanents, playing in the beautiful yard Reatha maintained and picking the cherries and apricots in the orchard. Probably eating more than what went into the buckets.

Her home was always loving and welcoming for her little sister. We loved, laughed and cried together.

Reatha had a special spirit of love and generosity. She was elegant and lovely both inside and out. People that knew her loved her for her wit, love and charity toward others. She easily conversed with all she met, for her there was no such thing as a stranger.

She loved music, beautiful flowers and objects of art, filling her home with the beauties the world offered her. She is an elect lady, touching all she knew with her love, joy and generosity.

Reatha will be missed, but the grand reunions with loved ones make up for all of us missing her. We know where she is, the elect lady named Reatha Jessie.

I love you.

Lila and Al Emery

I don't know that I have ever met anyone as kind and loving as my Aunt Reatha. She has always had an amazing spirit that instantly attracts all who are in her presence. Aunt Reatha had an amazing ability to make you feel so special and so loved. She truly was an elegant lady. I will miss her.

I can picture her beautiful smile as she reunites with her family and sings with the angels of heaven! What a glorious time this is for Reatha.

We love you. Jon, Liz, and Annie

I first met Reatha when she work for my father at Appliance Service Center in Holladay Utah. She was such a joy to talk with.She even brought her beautiful flowers to display in our windows. The customers loved her kindness and her contagious smile. My deepest sympathy to you her family for the lose of a wonderful mother. What a great responsibility you have been entrusted to continue her memory throughout the lives of your children and grandchildren and many more yet to come. May the lord continue to bless you during this hard time of change in your lives

My deepest sympathy to the Roestenburg family. I visited with Reatha when she was still in her home. She was a classy lady. She took pride in her home and family. Her grandson came to check on her while I was there and she was so sweet with him. Maria also called and we spoke that day. I felt your concern for her well-being and in turn how much she loved you all. She expressed that she had a good life and family. May God bless and comfort you now in your time of grief.



Sincerely,



Marlene Sagendorf

Salt Lake County Aging Services

Outreach

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

I met your Reatha when she first went to live at Garden Terrace. As part of the Garden Terrace Relief Society we go around on Sunday mornings to invite the residents to Sacrament Meeting. We also fequently visit with our Relief Society Sisters. Your mother was always so kind to me. I can truly say I love her and I always felt she was fond of me also. When I first introduced myself she asked me if I knew a Mel Price. I do, he is my husband's uncle. Reatha remembered going to Union Grade School with him. Maybe it was that connection or maybe it was that Reatha is so easy to love. But she became one of my favorite people at the care center. I realized Sunday that she wasn't doing well. I went back Sunday night specifically to see her. She was sleeping and I didn't want to wake her up. I kind of wished I had. I went back Tuesday morning, I had a feeling she had passed on, and I was right. Normally I would still go visit with other residents, but I was too upset. It usually doesn't affect me like that badly when one of the residents die.



It was obvious how much Reatha loved her home and family. She often pleaded with me to take her home. But I also saw her make the best of the situation as she made efforts to be happy living there.



My testimony grew from knowing Reatha. The first time I took her to church she realized the way was unfamiliar. In alarm she asked where I was taking her then bowed her head and said "Heavenly Father, please help me". A calmness came over her and she then took my hand and said "O.K. let's go" Her faith in me was so touching. It was also obvious that she loved the Hymns. She would ofthen sing with the congregation even when I thought she was a sleep.



I'm thankful for the privelege to have known her. .

Words cannot express the love & admiration i have always had for my sweet Aunt Reatha. She was the epitomy of elegance and grace. I admire the relationship she had with my mom (Lois) & her siblings. They were always so loving & supportive of each other. My mother shared her love of gardening that undoubtedly was past on through their mother. They both have the same love for iris's & peonies and I believe that many of them came from original starts from their mother. They always paid tribute to their loved ones on Memorial Day by placing those flowers on their graves.

Reatha was the epitimy of enduring to the end. I often thought of the tragedy she experienced losing her 1st beloved husband & facing raising her child without him. Her glory has been in all of her children & their families. My Reatha was who helped keep my memories of my Nana alive. Her sense of humor frequently caught me off guard and I delighted in it.

She was so sweet, loving & gentle. She always took such great care of herself but at the same time being so caring of others. She truly emmulated the attributes of Christ and I know she is reaping that reward right now. What a wonderful family reunion she has been having in heaven... something she treasured the most while here on earth!

I love her & will miss her.

Hopefully I can have some starts from her garden so that I can keep her alive in my heart while sharing them with my children and continue to pass on a little piece of their honorable heritage to them.

Thank you to her children for taking such great of her, particularly in her last most difficult years. You have learned well from your beautiful mother.

With love,