Rita Vanderwende, 81, of Coupeville, died on March 31, 2010, peacefully at home.

She was born on Dec. 21, 1928 in Medan, Indonesia on the island of Sumatra. Rita lived in Indonesia through the Second World War, after which time the family moved back to Holland, their original home country. In Holland, Rita pursued a nursing degree and spent wonderful years in the children’s ward in Amsterdam. She let nursing take her to Sweden for two years and to Norway for one year. Those were exciting years of exploration, meeting people, learning languages and trying to get sun whenever she could.

In 1959, her childhood friend, Everett, then living in Canada, proposed to Rita and she moved to Canada; together, they moved to the United States shortly thereafter. Lucy and Everett were born in Rhode Island, where Rita and Everett lived from 1959 to 1973. These were years marked by close friends, children growing up, and a tremendous organic vegetable garden, avant-garde at the time, to which Rita dedicated herself.

In 1973, Rita and Everett moved back to Holland to be closer to family. Rita devoted herself to caring for her parents and also to making their home welcome to everyone. Many of Lucy and Everett’s friends found a second home in Bloemendaal and are now part of our extended family.

At retirement, Rita and Everett pursued their dream to tour the United States, a new backyard every day. They packed only a little, sold most everything, including their house in Holland, and bought a motorhome they named L’Escargot. For three years, L’Escargot toured the states, their route carefully followed by family and friends. Finding a place to settle became a challenge, met only by Coupeville. Close enough to Lucy who resides in Sammamish, far enough away from the city, reachable by both ferry and by bridge, protected by the rain shadow, and a welcoming community full of interesting people, artists, Concerts-on-the-Cove and wonderful theater.

In 1996, Rita and Everett built a new home, designed by their son Everett, an architect trained in Holland. The house is sunny even though it is north-facing, with design elements that Everett incorporated after sitting on location on top of the motorhome for weeks on end, studying the land. Eagles, hummingbirds, owls, beautiful vistas over Penn Cove and up to Canada are what inspired Rita and Everett, their family and friends, every day. Grandchildren came to play, Shefali and Kiran, from Sammamish, and Mark and Chris, who visited in the summer from Voorschoten, the Netherlands. Gardening on the rocky glacial till was a challenge, but Rita and Everett persisted and enjoyed many hours working together in the warm sun. Once again, Rita devoted herself to creating a warm home where everyone was welcome, and they enjoy many enduring friendships in Coupeville.

On their 40th wedding anniversary, Rita and Everett traveled to Bali, an emotional trip they enjoyed very much, to recover memories of a wonderful childhood in Indonesia, despite Rita’s troubled memories of the war.

Rita will be missed by Everett, her dear husband of 50 years; Lucy and her husband, Arul; Everett and his wife Helma; Rita’s grandchildren, Shefali, Mark, Kiran and Chris; and Rita’s dear family and friends from all over the world.

There will be a reception for friends and family Thursday, April 8, from 3 to 4 p.m. at Burley Funeral Home, Oak Harbor.