April 13, 1937 - April 13, 2024
In loving memory ~
The following was written by my mom prior to her passing:
"I was born in Gottingen, Germany and died on the same day, 87 years later, in the lovely city of Cranbrook, British Columbia.
To say that my life had ups and downs would be an understatement. At the tender age of five, I had a close-up view of the war. At 15, I worked as a Nanny for a French family in Zurich, Switzerland; at 18, I successfully completed a three-year apprenticeship as a journeyman hairdresser, and at 20, I decided to immigrate to Canada to live in the mountains of British Columbia.
I left Germany shortly after Christmas in 1957 and arrived in Halifax some days later with enough money and a job to start my new life. (I could not speak English.) From there, by train, I arrived at my Government-chosen destination of Winnipeg, in early January 1958 with minus 40 degrees, and not even a hill in sight!
In April of that year, I met and married my husband Willy, and we headed for the mountains of British Columbia. We bought a lovely small farm in the Rocky Mountain Trench and here we raised our three children, son Daniel, and daughters Kareen and Tamy. I am proud of our children, who worked hard and established themselves on their own properties. Tamy and her husband Kurt still live and work on the beautiful old farm and have made many improvements to the place.
My former husband died in September 2018.
In the late 1970's I moved to Cranbrook for further education and work. In 1991 I founded the Cranbrook Garden Club, and, with like-minded "green thumbs", this Club is still very active thanks to the hard-working executive and members that have led activities throughout the years. I worked as an "obedient servant of Her Majesty the Queen" until I could finally retire to the thing that was my greatest joy - GARDENING! Shortly before I retired, my daughter Kareen and I put our money together and built a very comfortable house in which we have lived for almost 30 years, in peace and friendship.
I am content with what life has given me, the good and the bad, but after 87 years of bad health (Asthma), I decided to give myself the gift of MAID. I go in peace, but not without giving thanks to my dear Kareen, who has shared my life in good and bad times, my longtime friend and colleague Lorraine, and my thanks to God for his guidance and protection throughout my life."
I would personally like to thank the Home Health Care Support nurses and staff, Palliative Care members, Doctor Wight, Doctor Sewatkewich, paramedics with the BC Ambulance Service, and the other healthcare members who were involved in enabling my mom to pass away peacefully at home, as she wanted to do. Additionally, I want very much to thank my neighbours who have been very kind, and Kootenay Respiratory and McPhersons Funeral Services for their excellent service. There will be no funeral service, per my mom's wishes. Instead, in my mom's memory, our garden will be included in the 2024 Cranbrook Garden Club's Annual Open Garden Day and I welcome everyone who would like to see what my mom and I created come and visit our garden later this summer.