Miss you, dear Roanna. ❤️

Thinking of our fun times together, dear sister. Remember all the times people missed our birthdays because they hadn't bought their new calendars yet?! You are missed.

Happy Birthday Mom! We missed you over the holidays.

Remembering dear niece Rannie at this time, and thinking of her family who are missing her so much. May memories of her bright personality and unflagging devotion bring comfort and smiles. ... Aunt Dottie

It’s been two years since you left us, mom. We miss you very much.

Remembering Roanna on this second anniversary date. With happy thoughts of a cherished mother and grandmother.

Happy Birthday, mom. We miss you.
Love,
  Brian

Remembering all our fun times together. You are missed.

Rannie, I miss you so much. Today I wish I could send you a bouquet of flowers for your birthday. Love, Donna

Hi Mom,
  It has been a year since you left us. I still have trouble believing you are gone. There are still so many moments in a week when I say to myself "I should call mom", or "mom would love this", or "I can't wait to tell mom", only to remember that I can't pick up the phone and hear your voice. You left us too soon.
Love,
  Brian

Still so hard to believe Roanna is gone. I miss her. ❤️

Thinking of Roanna on her birthday. She so loved seeing her grandson Henry during the Xmas holidays and would have immensely enjoyed little Maddie, now 16 months old. Happy memories of her visits!

There are many wonderful memories with Aunt Rannie. We had many family gatherings over the years and she was a ton of fun - always laughing and joking, with her bright and witty personality. I also loved when she and her siblings would sing together, she had a beautiful alto voice. In her later years, I admired her very deep, devoted love to Michael and Brian, and to her grandkids. She TRULY loved them with ALL her heart and it exuded from her. I am so sorry for this loss of love in your lives, and hope your wonderful memories with her will carry you through this difficult time. Much love to you all.

I always looked forward to seeing Roanna at our California family get togethers. She was always delightful and I enjoyed her intelligent conversations. Seeing her with her grandkids was always a joy. I will miss her a lot, especially at Thanksgiving.

Happy Mothers Day to a wonderful mom. 

Rannie - that's how I always knew her! She is my cousin, one of the O'Neal family, our closest relatives in Southern California. on my mom's side. We spent many a holiday around their big table, all 13 of us - or more! My strongest memories of Rannie center around her incredible sense of humor and contagious laugh! I am 7 years younger, so when we were kids, she felt so much older and wiser. But I certainly remember her quick wit and dry sense of humor. :-) The O'Neal table was always filled with lively conversation, and I was fascinated, (though sometimes intimidated), with the constant fast-paced banter. I do remember being sad when she married and moved to New York, rarely gracing those family gatherings again. In later years, when she moved to San Diego, I was married and living there with my husband. We saw her and Michael and Bryan occasionally, and she was always interested in our lives and what we were doing. I know she had a special place in her heart for my mom, who loved her deeply as well. The last time I saw Rannie was at her mom's memorial service, and it was so very wonderful to be with her once again. We will miss her!

Roanna and I are the two American grandmothers of Brian and Anne’s young children—Henry, three, and Madeleine, eight months old. We became acquainted during her yearly Xmas trips to Paris that she so enjoyed. Although Roanna preferred to stay near her family in the Châtillon suburbs, I remember her inviting us all to a festive crêpe restaurant for lunch and a gala dinner at the famous La Coupole, both near Montparnasse on the Left Bank. She particularly delighted in shopping for the latest boy fashions for Henry and walking him in his carriage as she softly sang nursery rhymes to lull him to sleep. Sadly, she did not manage to meet Madeleine.
Together we talked about the joys and demands of teaching over several years with its changing vistas, and, of course, our shared devotion to Brian’s happy family. She was particularly kind and attentive to my daughter Anne as a young mother and artist. And her pleasure, rightly so, was unbounded in her proud recognition of Brian’s accomplishments and meaningful professional and personal life.
I extend my deepest condolences to Roanna’s close family members, extended relations, and good colleagues over the years as someone who simply knew her as a grandmom who lavished her deep affection on her family in France.

When we were kids growing up in the Yakima Valley we always looked forward to visits from our ‘older’ sophisticated, cool cousins from California. As I grew in age and was able to have an ‘adult’ relationship with Roanna, I discovered a real friend and in many ways a kindred spirit. Conversations ranging from our love of music, our professional involvement in education, examining the complexity of emotions and relationships and the openness to grapple with new and challenging aspects of spirituality are memories of ‘Rannie’ that I will always cherish. She was a complex and loving woman and a loyal cousin and friend. 

My best memory of Roanna, is from 1968. That was a year on the move for the Redfields! It was our appointed time as a missionary family to return from Taiwan to the U. S. for what was then called furlough. Usually, that meant a full year. But due to various circumstances, this was shortened to the summer months for us. The summer was full of visits to relatives on both sides of the family, while Mom and Dad squeezed in visits with supporting churches on weekends. At the end of our summer, we headed to Southern California to visit the families of Connie and Phoebe, and from there to fly back to Taiwan.

Along with reconnecting with family, what else would a family with four kids do while in Anaheim? Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm, of course! And Rannie, as we called her then, went along as our tour guide. My brother Chuck and I had been to both parks at ages 2 and 4, but the experience by 1968 was a distant memory. None-the-less, at age 15, I was doubtful I would find much entertainment at a “little kids” theme park . Not a chance with Rannie as our leader! With genuine enthusiasm and joy, she took us to all her favorite rides and attractions. Indefatigable, she made sure each adventure topped the previous ones. One of the newest attractions at that time was “It’s a Small World”. She led our boatload in singing that song with gusto! We concluded that wonderful day with a short visit to Knott’s Berry Farm, for by the we were quite tuckered out. Perhaps Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm visits were commonplace and hum-drum for the resident family members of Southern California, but with Rannie, we had the time of our lives!

Thank you, Rannie, for your love, warmth, and joie de vie!

Dear Rannie,
As one of my older, "California Cousins," I always looked up to you. We were so happy to be part of the Schilperoort clan and part of, "the 39," first cousins. It was a blessing to have you part of that "band of relatives" and we were blessed whenever you could join together with us in the family celebrations and reunions. While we may have been distant in some ways, what we shared in common helped unite us, even for what on the surface now may appear as just a few small moments in time.

As an eight year old, bug-eyed boy, it was very special of you to "play hostess" to our family on my first trip to Disneyland, not far from your folks home back in 1968. Thank you! I can barely remember, but I also think you went along for the ride to Long Beach for the "Wild Maus" wooden roller coaster.  https://rcdb.com/2425.htm For the, "every now and then" that we Redfields returned from East Asia, the family reunions and times with cousins, aunts and uncles whether in California or Washington were deeply enjoyed. These were great, "times of refreshing fellowship" with each other. I recall "fun times" singing together perhaps an old Young Life camp song, a hymn chorus, or a pop song or two when we gathered at Uncle Gerrit and Aunt Dee's living room after a scrumptious potluck. 

We are so blessed to realize that no matter where we are, He is present with us. Wherever we are going, He has already gone ahead of us and has prepared a special place for us. We all truly desire a much greater and grander reunion where once again we can express our wonder for His grace, and our love for one another as part of a much larger family; a family where all the nations are represented. What a blessing that will be! I look forward to joining with you there again in song.

I have so many memories of my sister, Rannie (as we called her). She was fun-loving and extremely witty. Becky, Rannie and I sang in a trio together; and, because we were siblings, our voices blended quite well, and we often sang in churches. Sometimes we were asked to sing at banquets and other functions. I loved singing with my sisters. 

On our yearly summer trips, unfortunately it was usually Rannie and Phyllis who got carsick. I really felt sorry for them as they often were oblivious of the latest tourist attraction, to which our mother was imploring us to: “Look, kids, look!!” hoping us to peel away from Archie and Jughead if even for a moment. 

I am so very sorry she is gone, but I’m happy that she had a good life and two wonderful sons, their wives and children, whom she adored. Good bye, Rannie. I love you. 

Growing up, the pride and joy of our family for many years was "The O'Neal Trio." This was Donna (soprano), Becky (middle voice), and Rannie (alto); poor Phyllis was too young. Anyhow, they were quite good and sang in church frequently. For several years as an adult, Rannie sang in a church choir I directed and we had a great time. Rannie always had a quick wit and a dry sense of humor--a great straight face.  There was a deep, soft and caring side to Rannie that will be missed.

Roanna was, is, and always will be my big sister. She was someone who could find humor in most any situation, and I remember laughing a lot around her. And smart? Wow. She was probably the smartest of the five of us. 

Rannie (as we called her) and I had a love-hate relationship with family vacations. Once we got to our destination, we had a great time. It was just getting there that was the problem. You see, we both had motion sickness. We would bury our faces into pillows--which was probably not at all helpful for car sickness. All too often one of us would call out, "Pull over fast!" Then, we'd climb over the other three siblings in the back seat, and out the door we'd fly to do our business on the side of the road. Mom always brought a supply of brown paper bags--just in case. Rannie quipped that she was going to write a book: I Saw the United States Through a Paper Bag.

It's difficult to lose a sister, but it is comforting to know her suffering has ended. She leaves behind wonderful memories, cherished sons and loving grandchildren. Goodbye, dear sister. I've loved you always.

If you ever had the occasion to be with Roanna when she was with her children, as was usually the case with me, you found a woman beaming with love for her boys, so happy for their accomplishments - and those grand babies! She seemed always so thrilled with life. I’ll forever see her with a welcoming smile, thrilled at being surrounded by her loving family. Thanks for raising such outstanding kids Roanna, you’ve enriched my life more than you’ll know. Thanks and with love, I’ll see you at the Rainbow Bridge.

P.S  Many years later I reconnected with Rannie at the memorial service for her mother, my dear sister Phoebe. Since then she periodically sent emails with news about her sons and their families. She posted pictures of grandkids at various ages, reflecting great love and pride, for them and for their parents. It was gratifying to get to know her better in the role of mother and grandmother.  You, Brian and Michael, and your families, are blessed to have great memories of her love and influence on all of you.  .... Aunt Dottie

My memories of Rannie go back to when she was an adorable, beautiful little girl with black curly hair which I loved to set and comb to get her ready for church. This was while I was staying with my sister Phoebe and husband Glenn when they lived in Santa Barbara, and later in Inglewood while I was taking summer university courses.  Rannie was always happy, playful, and loved to sing. She and her sisters were alway singing -- on the way to the park where I took them to play, or while in the bathtub, or getting ready for bed. Ostensibly, I was there to "help" ease my sister's busy life as a pastor's wife and mother, taking the kids off her hands for periods of time. But the pleasure was all mine. Rannie "took the cake" as the family cut-up!  She was a sweetheart. .......Aunt Dottie

  Rannie and I were the closest in age among our siblings. Growing up, we did everything together. We slept in the same room, went to the same schools, and shared the same friends. As kids, we played “House” almost every day. The plot was always the same. Donna was the mother, I was the father, and Rannie was the teen-age daughter who ran away from home.
  We both loved to sing and were in singing groups in church and school. Everyone in our family enjoyed Rannie’s great sense of humor. She was so quick-witted! Once, we were at Dodger Stadium and she walked into the men’s restroom by mistake.. When she rushed out, some guy yelled, “Hey, lady, you just came out of the men’s restroom!” Without missing a beat, she yelled back,”Yah, I’m the cleaning lady!”
  I have missed our closeness these past years, but will always cherish the many great times we had together.

Mom, it will take a very long time for my mind and heart to get used to your absence. There are so many moments when I think, "I should call mom", or "mom would love this".  As Mike says, though, we have so many beautiful memories to hang on to, and your influence can be seen everyday both in us and in our children. You had such a lasting, loving impact on those whose lives you touched. I will miss you forever.

When I attended USC, several members of the Schilperoort clan (then friends of mine in Washington State) gave me their cousin Rannie's phone number since she lived in the LA area. I called and coincidentally Rannie and I had something in common.  I was the new junior organist at Garden Grove Drive-In Church (later Chrystal Cathedral) and Rannie attended the 9:30 service there. We met there on a Sunday and Rannie took me to her parents home for dinner. You, Brian and Michael were a baby and a toddler. We must have spent a little more time together because I remember some long talks.  That was spring 1976 and I left LA in June of that year. I wasn't to see Rannie again until Willem Schilperoort's 100th birthday----when I was then newly married to Monte.  You boys are a wonderful testimony to your Mom's legacy of love!

Mom, I miss you so much. There is a huge hole in my life without you, but thankfully I can easily fill that hole with every wonderful and beautiful memory of you! You were always there for me and I was so glad that Brian and I could be there for you until the end. You are a beautiful person and your legacy will live forever with me, my family and especially your best Xbox buddy (and grandson) Gavin (my son). Your attention to him has shaped him in ways that will last forever. Thank you for being my mom and challenging me to be the best I could be. I will miss you like Borrego Springs misses the rain!