Obituary of Rheta Marie Jeffery

Rheta Marie Jeffery (Morrish) gently left this world on October 28, 2024 at the Dearness Home in London, Ontario. Rheta was born on March 8, 1937 in Fort Frances, Ontario. March 8 is International Women’s Day and Rheta lived her whole life very much in the spirit of that day. Rheta left her parent’s home in Burriss to attend and partially finish high school in Fort Frances before going to Winnipeg to become a hair dresser. Rheta married Stan Jeffery in 1956. Together they raised five children into the teen years before going different ways. For Rheta, that meant a return to finish high school and then employment, more training/education and eventually completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Bemidgi State University in 1988. Rheta was an accomplished artist and pursued a wide range of art forms including sketching, painting, pottery, weaving, batik, print-making, sewing clothes for her children, costumes for various types of dance formats and stage costumes for local theatre productions. Rheta kept physically active throughout her life by curling, badminton, sailing, Tai Chi, and of course dancing. By 1990 Rheta had left a 10year+ relationship to move to London, Ontario. London life brought her adventure with opportunities to pursue her many passions including women’s advocacy, art, poetry, country dance, square dance and her many women’s groups. A high point in March 1999 – 10th Anniversary Re-Membering Project, Rheta was commissioned by The Circle a Women’s collective for Spirituality, Activism and the Earth to create “15 Candelsticks and a Vase” for use during ensuing rituals. Work for Rheta was more than earning a living and while often struggling to make ends meet, she focused on the people while working, especially during her time with the Cross Cultural Learner Centre in London where she retired from at 70 years old. After retirement and managing some health issues, Rheta was settling into a quiet retirement in her much loved 100+ year home in St. Thomas, until she met and fell in love with Leonard Poetschke. Rheta and Leonard met square dancing and carried that spirit as they danced their way through the last years of their lives by traveling to Ecuador, Belize, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, Columbia, and road trips to Outer Banks of North Carolina, Los Angeles, Vancouver and across Canada back to St. Thomas. While Rheta lived a very rich full life she faced and overcame many challenges, loses, disappointments and set backs, but through much effort, personal growth and a deep spiritual life she was grateful for what life brought her. In the last few years she regularly exclaimed with a big smile… "fantastic". Many people have shared that Rheta was a hero and role model. While she will be missed, her spirit will live on in her children, family and friends. Rheta is survived by her children Theresa (John) D’Ornellas, Bob Jeffery (Tammy), Michele Peacock (Lee), 10 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, her brothers Tom (Shirley) Morrish, Robert Morrish and her sisters, Aurilla (Brian) MacDonald, Helen Morrish (Linda) and 18 nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sons Daniel Earl Jeffery, Richard Louis Jeffery, Leonard Poetskshe, and her parents Reginald and Madonna Morrish. In lieu of donations take some time to watch a sunset, do some art or play with a child in her memory. Rheta was cremated at Mount Pleasant Cemetery & Crematorium in London and a celebration of life will be held in July in Fort Frances. Online condolence may be shared with the family by visiting Rheta's tribute page at www.mpcemetery.ca.