Remembering Netsie
How Annette Roth's memory inspired her children to sponsor a water tank for kids in Kenya.
Annette Roth (center, blue shirt) with husband Ron and family. From top down: Kayley, Tristan, Krista, Alex and Zoe Roth. Top row: Andy, Tom & Dave. Middle row: Ella, Shelly, Jenni & Jennifer Roth.
Gifted at helping children learn, Annette Roth, or “Netsie” to her friends and family, took advantage of every chance she had to teach with her first grade classes, three sons, and six grandchildren. She was known for combining her passion for art, pedagogical expertise, and patience to create activities kids loved. Her grandchildren can recall afternoons full of art projects, learning, and even illustrating self-published books.
Annette (“Oma” to her grandchildren) with Krista Roth (blue shirt) and Kayley Roth (red shirt).
Unexpectedly, her earthly life came to an end in 2007. But as family and friends said goodbye, they surely wouldn’t have predicted how Netsie’s passion for education would live on in the years to come.
About 12 years later, some of Netsie’s children visited a primary school near Murang’a, Kenya. It was clear to see that the staff were passionate about the development of their school. All of them agreed that a quality education was fundamental, especially to the many students living in poverty. However, a lack of access to clean water was keeping them so focused on the challenge of meeting physical needs, that they were at a loss for how they could keep up with students’ education itself. In addition to the water-related problems, the preschool classroom had become a hangout for dangerous snakes! As they listened to the staff explain the many physical challenges facing their school, Netsie’s family knew that if nothing changed, the students may never be able to receive the education they desperately needed.
Scroll through the pictures below to see the Roth family’s first visit to Gitungano Primary in Kenya.
Remembering Netsie and her passion for education, the family began to talk. They remembered the many ways Netsie prioritized educating kids both personally and professionally. Thinking of their love for Netsie and her love for education, it was an easy decision: in Netsie’s honor, her surviving family would raise the funds for the Gitungano water tank.
After waiting for COVID restrictions to ease up, Tom, Jenni, Kayley, Dave, Jennifer, Tristan and Zoe Roth were able were able to make it to Kenya and join the commissioning celebration at Gitungano. Along with them came Netsie’s husband Ron, who was now in his 80’s. Unlike Netsie, who was an avid traveler, Ron preferred to stay near home. Just like the rest of the family, we think that in addition to being surprised, we know Netsie would have been proud of him!
Photo below: grandchild Zoe Roth interacts with Gitungano students in Kenya. Scroll through the gallery below to see pictures taken from the Gitungano commissioning.
Because of some secret planning between Netsie’s oldest son, Tom, and JJ’s team in Kenya, this commissioning became especially memorable. A surprise to Netsie’s recently married granddaughter Kayley and her new husband Roma, they were given a Kenyan-style wedding celebration at the commissioning. Below you take a glance of what a Kenyan wedding celebration (or at least, mock-celebration) is like. Unlike a typical celebration in the U.S., you will see that it is a tradition for the couple to feed wedding cake not only to each-other, but to their guests!
Scroll through the pictures below to see the Kenyan-style wedding that took place during the commissioning celebration:
Remembering her love for education, kids, family and even travel, Netsie’s family can only help but think she would have been blessed knowing what has happened in Kenya since her passing. Though we still miss her deeply, we are grateful to know that her memory has made a difference at Gitungano Primary and will continue to do so for many years to come!
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If you or your family would like to sponsor a water project in your loved one’s name, contact us by clicking the link below.