Farewell to Mum My Mentor & Best Friend

10 June 2024

Jean Lorraine Riedel - 26/06/1936-26/05/2024

Jean Lorraine Riedel (nee Watts) 26/6/1936 – 26/5/2024

Its a sad time for my family at the moment.

Gone is my mentor and my best friend. But in my heart and in my memories she will always there.

My Mum was strong, proud, independent, courageous, inspiring & witty, and on the inside she was sensitive with a heart of gold.

Mum loved her family, the outdoors, horses, music, and travelling. She was full of life and inspirations right till the end. Her family consisted of 4 of us children, 7 Grandchildren and 12 Great Grandchildren.

Jean 20 years of age on Chester the first horse she broke in

Mum was born in Cowel in South Australia, and moved around alot during her life. In her younger years she worked as a shop assistant, & telephonist, in Burra where she met Dad, Married and had her first child Bev, Craig was born in Canberra and Coralie and Heather Wirrabara.

The majority of her life she devoted her horsemanship skills as a volunteer in all aspects of the equestrian world for over 6o years. A Life Member of the Kadina Pony Club and the Central Zone of Pony Club South Australia, and a she also received a “Living Legend ” certificate in appreciation of her over 50 years of support for Pony Clubs in S.A. She was also the founder of Kangaroo Island Hunt Club 50 years ago! And prior to that she was involved in the Wirrabara Pony Club where I first started riding at the age of 5. Mum was also on the inaugural committee that founded the Wirrabara Hunt Club. ( PS you are not hunting anything just socializing and jumping over jumps these days)

Mum recently visited Kangaroo Island for the 50th Anniversary of the Kangaroo Island Hunt Club. Enjoying the dinner, giving a speech ad-lib, by the way, and she enjoyed watching the hunt the next day. She got to catch up with some of her grandkids and all of her Great Grand Children. Which was all very precious. She loved her time here catching up with old friends and reminiscing old times.

We are so grateful Mum got to hear all the lovely words from her past acquaintances and friends, at the Hunt Celebrations and on KI, that truly was so special to her, she felt so honoured.

Sue Trethewey, a part of KI Hunt Club from the beginning and still riding at 75. Mums last touch of a horse

Mum went into hospital after leaving KI for a valve to be placed in her heart to help her, which unfortunately caused complications and mum passed away 30 hours later. She wasn’t ready, but we are grateful she had a grand life, doing what she loved and living in her own home still independent to the end.

She rides on in the skies, but her spirit remains a guiding light in our hearts forever.

Love always and miss you. Gone but never forgotten.

The Kadina Pony Club did a guard of Honor for mum at her funeral, which was very special.

This is the link to Mums funeral if anyone would like to watch it.