Henri Hartog Wallig and Aleida Christina Benninck, Rita’s parents.
Rita and her brother, Hans
Rita on the right. Frits, her eldest son, is next to her. Esther, her sister-in-law, and two of Esther and Hans’s children, all of whom were murdered in Auschwitz, are on the left.
By I. Caroline Crocker
The Truth was Different
Coming in 2026
Moeder
Those who have read Unforgivable all come away with the same question. “What was up with Frits’s and Jan’s mother?” This book will attempt to answer that question.
Her Story
Every person on this planet has to live with themselves. And, most likely, the vast majority of people believe that their actions are reasonable. Moeder (Marie Johanna or Rita) was no different. She wrote about some of it in the story of her childhood, De Gesolten Deur, and the war years in her autobiographical book, De Werkelijkheid was Anders. Her books are now out of print. The rest of her story can be pieced together through interviews with her survivors, reading her other works, and historical research. That is my goal for 2025.
Wait for it!
In a book to be published in 2026, Moeder will speak for herself, not even leaving out the painful or embarrassing details. The resultant powerful story of heartbreak, impossible choices, and accepting the consequences will be unforgettable and may provide food for thought for years to come.
From the left is Cor Bisschop, Rita, Corrie, Guusje, and Jacobus Ouwerkerk. Meta is in the front. Cor and Guusje are Meta’s parents, and Corrie is her sister. Meta is married to Frits. Jacobus was Rita’s second husband.
Rita and Jacobus
Award-Winning Author
Caroline Crocker
Caroline’s story is that she has worked as a biology professor, the chief executive officer (CEO) of a startup company, the president of a nonprofit, a private tutor, a technical writer, a research scientist, a consultant, and a communications expert.
Caroline maintains a blog, Rambling Ruminations, and is the author or coauthor of thirteen books, including the related five-star and award-winning Brave Face: The Inspiring WWII Memoir of a Dutch/German Child. Of course, the first chapter of Unforgivable also won an award.
Caroline is married to Richard and has four grown children and eight grandchildren.
But what is most important here is that Caroline is Frits’s daughter.
See where Caroline is appearing by clicking here!
Schedule an Event
caroline(at)ramblingruminations.com
Contact Author
caroline(at)ramblingruminations.com