Obituary of Amanda Rietschlin

May 28, 1973-May 5, 2020 With peace at home surrounded by the love of her family and the tranquility of nature we announce that Amanda passed away Tuesday May 5, 2020 at the age of 46. Amanda was the devoted wife of Corey Squires, the amazing Mom to Julian Rietschlin (Erikka) and Andrew and William Squires. She was the beloved daughter of John and Donna (Becker) Rietschlin of Ottawa, Ontario. She leaves behind five siblings: Rebecca Machado (Jeff) and their children Tom and Nick; Sarah Rietschlin; Jessica MacVicar (Shaun) and their children Emily and Hailey; Micah (Loredana Gallo) and their children Alissa and Marcus; and Maryssa Rietschlin. She was predeceased by sister Anna Rietschlin. Amanda was determined, creative, loving, and loved. She was deeply at home in nature and spent time cross country skiing, fishing, camping, and canoeing, first on the northern Ontario rivers, lakes and islands around Atikokan and more recently around her home near Arnprior. Amanda expressed her creativity through a wide range of activities - quilting, knitting, painting, photography, sketching, gardening, and more - and made deep connections with others who shared these loves. She loved her pets, live music, and the nature that wandered through her yard. Amanda and Corey bonded over concerts and adventure in their early years together, and grew together in ways that brought out the best in both of them. It is hard to describe true love, but they knew that was what they had and they were grateful for it every day. Amanda loved her sons deeply and prioritized their well-being over all. These ideals were not cliches nor Hallmark platitudes but were deep, guiding principles in her life. Amanda was a big sister who was mindful of what that meant - to be an example, an encourager, and a source of support. That continued as she became an engaged and loving aunt, baking cupcakes and doing crafts with the newest members of the family. Amanda trained as a Speech Language Pathologist in Alberta, returning to Ontario to dedicate her skills and compassion to improve the lives of the many children and parents she served in Windsor, Atikokan and Arnprior. Amanda's larger than life smile brightened many rooms and drew people to her. Many a casual first meeting turned into a longtime friendship, and new friends were quickly welcomed by her authentic, open personality. When Amanda was first diagnosed with cervical cancer nine years ago, she decided that she would do everything she could to live. That referred to medical care but also to a commitment not to let this diagnosis change who she was or to define how she lived her life from that day forward. She shared her experience openly but also lived life fully. She continued to learn and grow and live and love for every one of the years from that day to the last. Grace, Authenticity, Kindness; these were Amanda's path. We are grateful to have walked alongside her for as long as we could. Amanda’s final care has been entrusted to the Boyce Funeral Home Ltd., 138 Daniel Street North, Arnprior. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Watch for the fireworks! For those who wish to honour Amanda’s memory with a charitable donation, please consider your local food bank. "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Maya Angelou