Eickholt, Henrica "Rickie"

At the age of 98, Rickie Eickholt passed away peacefully on May 8, 2022 in Northumberland Hall, Amherst, NS. Born in 1924 in Vught, Netherlands, Rickie was one of 13 children of the late Herman and Anna (Notten) Mens. At a very early age Rickie learned that when schoolwork, gardening, and chores were done, you were expected to read or do handwork. And she rose to the task. By age five, she was knitting clothes for her dolls. In elementary school, her knitting was so precise the nuns sent her down to Grade One to teach beginners. So began a long career of fine handwork, that expanded beyond knitting to include sewing, embroidery, cross stitch, rug hooking, weaving, quilting, and tapestry. Her prolific creations of beautiful quilts, tablecloths, and napkins live on as her legacy in many homes. During WW2, Rickie left home to work in an orphanage as a care-giver. In 1947, she met her future husband, Harry Eickholt, at a skating party in Vught. For over 30 years, she and Harry worked side by side, as owners and operators of a photography business in, the Netherlands. In 1979, they immigrated to Nova Scotia, following their children. They settled in Shinimicas for 20 years, before moving briefly to Halifax and then returning to Amherst. She and Harry shared a love of travel, and their favourite places to vacation, and photograph were France and Arizona. Her four growing granddaughters were fortunate to live next door, and Grandma would welcome them each day after school with milk, cookies, and “Another World”. She prepared many meals of traditional Dutch cooking and delicious soups which were enjoyed by all family members. Rickie loved sharing time with her family and playing games. Her competitive spirit remained strong – she relished winning, especially Friday Bingo. She is survived by her children Louise (Werner) Van Thielen, Northport; Herman (Linda Reid), East Amherst; and Ron, Shinimicas. She is also survived by six grandchildren, two stepgrandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Harry. A Celebration of Life will be held on May 12, 2022 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. at Campbell’s Funeral Home Amherst NS. The family wants to thank the staff of Northumberland Hall and Centennial Villa for the wonderful care for their Mom. Donations in Rickie’s memory may be made to any charity of your choice. Online condolences and sharing of memories may be made to the family by visiting the Campbell's Facebook page or via: www.campbellsamherst.ca