On January 2, 2026, what began as a beautiful Friday morning in Vail Colorado, heaven gained an angel. Mariëtte Storz Wright, age 70, left this world unexpectedly in her favorite place on Earth at her home in the mountains of Colorado with family present and in the arms of her husband of 48 years. Born March 23, 1955 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands at St. Franciscus Gasthuis to parents Truus and Fer Storz, "Jet" as she was so lovingly called was born Mariëtte Elisabeth Flora Storz. Her parents could not have come from more opposite backgrounds. A city boy from Rotterdam married a gentleman-farmer's daughter from DeBilt, and they raised their family in the city of Rotterdam. She would ice skate to grade school, satchel in tow and was always so proud of her special and unusual upbringing in Holland. She had so many friends in the city and participated in volleyball at school, but her parents instilled a love and admiration for horses, giving her many horseback riding memories that Jet carried with her during her entire life. She and her sister spent many days at their uncle's horseback riding school in De Bilt, taking the train from the city to spend days at their grandparents' country home caring for and riding horses. In addition, for 20 years, the Storz family spent Christmases in Saas Fe, Switzerland skiing in the mountains. That is where her love of skiing began. After high school, Jet opted for a secretarial career and completed her specialized schooling before working in Rotterdam for Zapata Corporation. At that time, she was proficient in Dutch, English, German and French and was working on Italian when she met the love of her life in August 1976, an American who had been recently relocated from Dubai to Rotterdam. During their short courtship, Wayne moved to England for work where they continued long their distance relationship before marrying in front of family and friends in Rotterdam on October 18, 1977.

A few months later they moved to Scotland, again for work, where Jet and Wayne learned they were expecting. Lindsey was born in March 1979 just before Wayne and Jet learned of his next relocation back to the United States. They created a beautiful life in Rosenberg, Texas and added Niels to the family in September 1981 and Taryn in July 1984. Wayne traveled extensively for work internationally while Jet cared for the children. And what an incredibly beautiful job she did. She also worked several years with her friend of many years, Sandy McGee.

Jet made friends wherever she went; she had coffee dates with friends and kept the children active and on time to every function that life called for. Jet was a talented seamstress, cross-stitcher, and even knew how to knit, crochet, and tat, an old lace-making technique. Jet continued to visit Holland when she and Wayne could, where they introduced their children to different cultures and countries. She was everywhere she wanted and needed to be, but a calling to get back on the mountain to share her passion for skiing with her family never ceased. She and Wayne were able to mark a check off their bucket list—a home in the mountains, sharing her love of skiing with family and friends in Vail, Colorado. They also spent summers in the mountains going to the symphony and traveling to the many other beautiful places Colorado has to offer. Not only did Jet have a knack for making things more beautiful, but she also had an eye for decorating and design. This was again evident when after 32 years, she and Wayne moved from Rosenberg into the beautiful home she designed and they had built in Richmond, Texas and then another home and farm they so enjoyed in Orchard, Texas.

Jet was a voracious reader and loved her Majong, Canasta, and Shanghai groups (very often taking their money!). This brought her immense joy and the friendships she fostered with those ladies were incredibly important to her. Jet was a fabulous cook and her creativity in the kitchen was unmatched. As you might expect, her favorite honor was being a grandmother to her three beautiful grandchildren, Adley, Case, and Breck (ABC), each lovingly called her YeYe, and YeYe was at every swim meet, school program, sports game and ABC function she could attend. She rarely missed a beat. Just recently Niels married Tiffany, adding stepchildren to the family, and both Kensey and Corryn were able to enjoy Yeye as well. Taryn's furbaby Hazelnut loved to visit Yeye too. Jet spent countless hours chatting with her sister in Holland and kept well abreast of her nephew, Bas, and niece, Lente's, successes and lives. Despite the many miles that separated them, they were incredibly close, and Jet jumped on a plane to spend time with family any chance she could as well as seeing friends there.

Jet will be missed for so many reasons: her love for family, her amazing food, her card-playing, her last-minute school lunch deliveries, her attendance at the kids' activities, her decorating, her cross-stitching, her companionship, her guidance and advice, her friendship, and her warmth. She was one of the most unique people on the planet, opened her home to all friends and family, and gave love to all she knew. She will be missed beyond words, but we will cherish the memories she left with us. May all the lives that she touched hold tight to those memories and may the color of her spirit remain.

Mariëtte leaves behind her beloved husband of 48 years, Wayne, and their three children, Lindsey Ewers, Niels Wright, and Taryn Wright, along with their respective spouses Matt Ewers, Tiffany Wright, and Austin Hardt, and her beloved grandchildren—Adley, Case and Breck, Kensey & Corryn, and in Holland her sister, Ellen Storz, nephew Bas Mencke and niece Lente Mencke. She also leaves behind in-laws, nieces, and their spouses and children.

We will have a celebration in the spring to commemorate her life. Details will follow. We sincerely appreciate all the support we have received.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Texas State Technical College (Rosenberg campus), Shriners Children's Hospital (Texas), Cypress Lucky Mutt Rescue or the charity of your choice.