Her family announces with regret that Henriette F. Rival (née Mulders) passed away, in Ottawa, on Nov. 20, 2025. She was 77. Braving a terminal cancer diagnosis, she led an active and independent life until the end. Hetje, as she was fondly known, was a caring mother, loving wife, and dear friend.
She was born in the Netherlands to a large family, received a classical education, and as a teen played tennis and competitive field hockey. At university she studied law and Russian. While working as a mathematical typist in Amsterdam, she met Ivan Rival, a Canadian mathematician. It was love at first sight--the two married the same year and grew ever closer.
She raised three children, instilling in them a passion for music from an early age and supporting their varied interests. As each followed different life paths, she offered encouragement and took pride in their accomplishments. She adapted to life in a new country, first in Calgary then Ottawa, and traveled extensively with her family, playing an essential supporting role during her husband’s sabbaticals in France, Germany, China, and Russia. On frequent visits to the Netherlands, she enjoyed time spent with her extended family. Until her last days, she maintained close relationships with her siblings.
Ivan’s sudden death in 2002 left her heartbroken. Yet she rebuilt her life and social circles. She nurtured a lifelong interest in the arts by joining a painting class, producing many fine works, even acquiring a certain notoriety for creative depictions of wine glasses. She played bridge, met with the Dutch community, and joined a French speaking group. She donated to many charities and loved animals. She nourished her intellectual curiosity by reading broadly, took a keen interest in politics, and would fall asleep with The New Yorker or The Economist in hand.
In 2011 she welcomed her first grandchild, and in the years that followed, six more. She treated them to her secret stash of candy from the Dutch store, delighted in playing board games, and watched them grow up too quickly. She was as proud of them as she was of her own children. She possessed a keen sense of humour, often quietly listening to a conversation only to crack a joke at the most unexpected moment. She loved lively conversation over coffee on a wide range of topics.
Hetje is survived by her children, Robert (Chantal-Andrée), David (Laurissa) and Katia; grandchildren, Raphaël, Fynn, Audrey, Charlie, Astrid, Julien, and Florence; siblings, Arny, Wiep, Anthony, Helma, Edith, John, and Maurice.
A memorial will be held on Fri., Nov. 28 at 10:30am at Beechwood Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Services, 280 Beechwood Ave., Ottawa. The family welcomes donations to The Ottawa Hospital Foundation.
Livre de visiteurs
Kelly Fogarty
Line Decarie
My dearest Katia and family, we are so so sorry for your loss. Our hearts go out to all of you. We are here if you need us. We miss our wonderful neighbors and want you to all know that we feel your loss. Love Line and Mark
Yan and Olga Chechelnitsky
We lost a dear friend. Rest in peace.
Lyne Cere and Richard Simoneau
I want to offer my sincere sympathy to you and your family. I can only imagine how difficult this time must be for you. Your mother was such a wonderful woman, and I know how deeply she meant to you.
I’ll always remember the story about her secret stash of candy from the Dutch store, or her way to say no,no, no to the kids; it never failed to make us smile.
Please know that we are thinking of you, and we are here for you when you get back.
With heartfelt sympathy,
Lyne and Richard
Dave Mulders
Our condolences, we wish Robert, David, Katia and all their loved ones much strength and courage. Rest in peace, Aunt.
Dave, Ellen, Norah & Amber
Heidi Schaettgen
Dear Katia, Robert, David and families
I would like to express my deepest Sympathy regarding the, far too early,
passing of your dear mom.
May you find consolation in knowing that suffering ended and
she can now rest in peace.
To you she was a great mother, to me a very good friend,
I will miss her phone calls and our regular "coffee-times".
watching Tennis and having "heated discussions" regarding
worldly and domestic issues!
"What we once enjoyed and deeply loved
we can never lose, for all that we love
deeply becomes a part of us."
May good memories give you strength and
comfort, to face the times ahead.
Love
Heidi and Family
Susan DAntoni and Andrew Cameron
To Rob,David and Katia our condolences on the loss of your mother who loved and was so proud of you and your children.
For me she was the best of friends , always interesting and interested. In what became regular telephone conversations, she shared her brothers and sisters, her children and her grandchildren with me, such that I felt like I knew them all. And we would discuss all manner of topics, serious and not. When we came to the end of our conversations, she would always ask me what I was having for dinner and chide me a bit because I was being cooked for by Drew and she wanted to make sure I knew how lucky I was.
But not only did we talk on the telephone, we wrote each other often and the thread and remembrance of our friendship over the years remains in these many many messages.
Richard and Fran Nowakowski
Our condolences to Katia, David , and Robert. Hetje was a wonderful person, and she always talked about you with love and pride.
We first met Hetje and Ivan in Calgary and they became important people in our lives. Good memories of lots of food, drink and good company. Meeting up with Hetje in Ottawa, Calgary or Victoria, was always a highlight of a trip.
Deepest sympathy to all the family. Your Mom sounded like an amazing woman