Sheila Christine van Asch, 84

Sheila Christine van Asch, 84, passed away, Friday, July 11, 2008 in Sandpoint, Idaho. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 17, 2008 at the Lakeview Funeral Chapel. Viewing will be held one hour prior to the service.

Where do you begin with a woman who has done so much and touched so many people. Born on September 18th, 1923 in England, raised in the bush of Uganda, matriculated into Cambridge University at age 16; lived in New Zealand, The Island nation of Tonga, California and finally Idaho. She has been married twice. Had seven children and read practically every book ever written. Her travels took her places more distant than those reached by Marco Polo, some stranger than Gulliver ever encountered. And in each of these lands she made friends, friends that she never forgot, and that never forgot her.

Here too, she and her husband Nicolaas made friends that have proved fast and loyal, and so it was in Idaho, that they eventually chose to live. In the hills overlooking Lake Pend Oreille, they built a home, filling it with knick-knacks and memories from a lifetime of travel. So varied were the artifacts that one new friend commented how stepping into their house was almost like stepping into a museum. Family and friends came from all over the world to visit, and always came again. Sheila lost her husband two and a half years ago, and though missing him bitterly, continued undeterred, traveling once again to visit family and friends in Denmark, England, Holland, Australia and even Arizona.

She returned to her home overlooking Lake Pend Oreille, and though she still longed most for the company of her Husband, enjoyed and entertained family and friends to her last days. It was also in those last days that she was befriended by those kind people of Hospice, who came to care for her. They became endeared to her and her to them, for like those who already knew, they found it was always a pleasure to be in her company.

We are angry that she is gone, and we miss her; very very much. We take comfort in the Words of Job 14, seeing that Jehovah misses her too, that he yearns for her and will call her back soon.

She is survived by 3 daughters Annette Sullivan in Australia, Vanessa “Bobby” Ridgewell in Wales, Kristine “Athene” Robben in Arizona; 2 sons Keith Ridgewell in Denmark and Nicolaas van Asch in Idaho.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Nicolaas, daughter Louise Baines, and son Robin van Asch who died 2 months ago.

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Sheila’s online memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign the guest book.