Rochester, NY: March 5, 1933 – February 24, 2020
Riki was a caring sister, wife, and loving mother to her 3 children: Christian (Julie), Simone (Dirk) & Andre (Ragni), grandmother of 6 and great grandmother of 3. She emigrated from the Netherlands in the 1950s to Rochester NY, where she met her husband, Frank. Riki was extremely devoted to her family in Rochester and back home in Holland. She was a good friend, a dedicated business partner and was loved by everyone she met.
Riki was born March 5, 1933 to Adrianus and Goverdina Rutten in Eindhoven, Netherlands. One of three children, she had an older brother Andre and a younger sister Dinah who still lives in the Netherlands. Riki lived with her family in occupied Holland during WWII. After the war she decided to move to the United States in 1955 where she worked as a live-in nanny for several years. During this time, she met Frank Blaakman, also an immigrant from Eindhoven, who moved to Rochester with his family in 1949. They fell in love and were married for 60 wonderful years.
Riki had a special gift and passion for sewing. She self-taught herself how to sew when she was 9 years old. When her children were teenagers, Riki decided to work outside of the home as a seamstress at a small interior window treatment provider. After several years, she decided to start her own business, Draperies by Riki. She was a master in her craft and her exceptional window treatments were requested and revered by many in the community.
Riki was an exceptional homemaker. She made everything from scratch, whether it was baking fresh bread, canning fruits and vegetables, or making her own candles. She enjoyed all types of music but had a special love for classical music.
We will miss Riki dearly and she will always hold a special place in our hearts.
As per her request, services will be kept private and for immediate family only. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor her life can make a tribute gift in her name directly to the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org/rochesterny/donate.
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I am deeply saddened to hear this news. Riki was one of the kindest souls ‘and best cooks’ I have ever met and she will be sorely missed. My condolences to her family and thank you for sharing her with me!
Sorry for the family loss. Riki was always positive and very pleasant to be around. She was obviously committed to her family. I’m sure she was a blessing to all who knew her and she will be missed. I pray for peace and comfort for her family.
I am so sad to hear of Riki’s passing. She was a huge part of my life.
I am the small window treatment provider where Riki worked for many years. We started out in my home where Riki served as a second mother to my children. Whatever they needed, if I was not around, she was.
Every morning I looked forward to her cherry hello.
No matter the tasks before us, if I gave Riki a choice, she would say, “It doesn’t matter. It all has to be done.”
We all shared a lot of laughs and family stories. We listened to country music and later, talk radio. Dr. Laura advised us on everything! We had Christmas parties, puppy showers, and the day I turned 50, I found a life size doll of an old woman on my front porch-one of her Dutch traditions!
She was a very large part of my business success.
May she rest in peace. My sincere condolences to her wonderful family. Let happy memories sustain you all.
Uncle Frank, Simone, Chris and Andre, our condolences to all the family. Tante Riki was a special person and dearly loved, she will be missed by many. Love to you all. Mom is requesting that a mass be said for her at the Carmelite Monastery.
Our heartfelt condolences to the family. May her soul rest in peace. Om Shanti 🙏
Of course John and I are very saddened by the passing of Riki. She had a great sense of humor and her cooking was unsurpassed! I for one will always remember as a young girl how she made me a black velvet hat and crocheted little flowers on it. It was such a prize for me. She will surely be missed and always loved for who she was. May she rest in the loving arms of our Lord and smile down on us every day. Peace to my brother, Frank and all the family.
Uncle Frank, Chris, Simone, and Andre, please accept my condolences at this difficult time. I will never forget Aunt Riki’s hugs, her wonderful accent, and her welcoming coffee. May peace and life be with you all.
It has been many years since I have had the pleasure of
Aunt Rikis company. Still, I have not forgotten her wonderful smile and pleasant demeanor. She set an example for all of us to follow. The world is a lesser place without her presence. My deepest sympathy and regrets to the entire family.
Our deepest sympathy to your entire family. So sorry for your loss. She was a wonderful woman/mom. Grateful to have known her. Always smiling. Always cheerful and kind. We wish u peace and strength in your time of sorrow.
Love Jolly/Vandana/Reena/Rohan
Beautiful tribute to a beautiful person! Please accept our heartfelt condolences. Riki will be remembered always with great fondness and respect.
Love and hugs,
Sonny, Awani, Uma and Aanya
Uncle Frank,,Chris, Simone and Andre….I just wanted to extend my condolences. I have very fond memories of her and I wish her and you peace at this difficult time.
Peace and Love
Hans Blaakman
May God bless you all. I have very fond and happy memories of time spent at Uncle Frank and Aunt Riki’s. She was always kind and generous. Hugs, family.
My deepest condolences on the loss your your dear mum Andre. Thinking of you and your family. May you take comfort in the memories that you made with her. May her soul resting peace.
Dear Frank, Chris, Simone, Andre and all the members of the Blaakman family, Please accept our heartfelt condolences for Riki’s heaven bound journey! She will be greatly missed, as she had a very personal and a special relationship with us all! She lived her life with a great dignity and grace! Without complaining she handled any thing that came her way! She never asked what others can do for her but always extended her care and help to others! She always knew how she can can help someone and she did it selflessly! We feel that Dear God needed her more an and felt that she accomplished all that she set out to do! She will be greatly missed! With love Tarika & Hridaynath
I’m so sorry to hear of Riki’s passing. I knew her from Tai Chi class and enjoyed her company there for more than a few years…I so enjoyed chatting with her at and after class…she was quite a lady and she will be missed! All my thoughts and prayers to her family who will surely miss such a kind and talented lady…
Jean
My sincerest sympathy to you Frank and your family. I so enjoyed time with Rikki. We met through Tai Chi and was sadden when she felt she had to give it up. She was a wise , generous woman with much to offer. Rikki has been on my mind this past week and I found it to late to call these past days. It may have been better not to have intruded on your family’s last days with her. I hope she will look down on us and know how much she meant not only to her family but also to all she encountered. We, her Tai Chi friends ,will remember her and miss her.
Blessings are sent to you all who loved her so much.
Candy Davies
We will so miss “Meema” she was so generous and loving. She made us feel part of her greater family. Love and condolences to all the Blaakmans
Love from Peter Martha Jacob Marc Schermerhorn