Zefa Raeymaekers

She was born on 11 September 1922 in Retie, Belgium.[1] After attending a vocational school for cutting and seaming, she attended the literary regency and higher art education typography "Plantin". She became a home teacher and freelance journalist for the BRT, among others, and then a professional journalist for the Gazet van Antwerpen. She was the first woman to be professionally recognized as a freelance journalist in Flanders. She was also a poet under the pseudonym Rita Reene. In this capacity she wrote, among other things, a well-known Christmas song that was harmonized by Gaston Feremans.[2]

From 1971 to 1982 she was a councilor for the CVP in Vosselaar. From 1977 to 1981 she was a provincial senator for the Antwerp Province in the Senate and from 1981 to 1987 in the Chamber of Representatives for the Turnhout district. From May 1977 to October 1980, as a result of the then existing dual mandate, she also sat on the Cultuurraad for the Dutch Cultural Community. From 21 October 1980 to December 1987, she was a member of the Flemish Council. She was known for her commitment to nature conservation in the Campine and the pursuit of more democracy at local administrative level there.[2]

In 2012, she was made an honorary citizen of Hoogstraten, in gratitude for having ensured that from 1985 this municipality may use the more prestigious title city.[3] She spent the last years of her life in a residential care center in Dessel.[4]

She entered into her first marriage in 1960 to Paul De Loore (1931-1986) with whom she had four children. In 2002 she entered into her second marriage with Gustaaf Vos (1921-2006).