THERESE BUCHNER

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THERESE BUCHNER Therese Buchner left this world quietly and peacefully in the early hours of Tuesday, April 5, 2011, holding the hand of her only daughter. She started her journey to be reunited with her one true love, Max, who predeceased her in 1972. Therese was born in 1918 in Leppersberg, Bavaria, Germany, one of 17 children of Maria and Josef Bauer. She worked hard from a very early age, and took care of her younger siblings when she was still a child herself. Shortly before the beginning of the Second World War, Therese met and married Max Buchner, and in 1939 baby Theresa (Resi) arrived. The war interfered as it did for so many other families in Europe, and it was a number of years before they could all live together as a real family. After seeing the horrors of war, Max, Therese and 14-year-old Resi left everything behind and came to Canada to join Therese's bachelor brother Xaver in Manitoba. In 1959, Resi married Werner Birkholz and in the ensuing years Therese's cherished granddaughters, Rika and Sandra, were born. After many struggles as new immigrants, Winnipeg, and specifically the house known as 288, became home when Therese and Max as well as Resi, Werner and the two girls moved in, in 1965. In Canada, Therese soon became Oma to everyone she met. Oma was the heart of our home and she loved nothing more than feeding and taking care of people, and going to church. For many years, she attended mass at St. Ignatius every day, riding her bike in the summer and walking in winter. The community, support and prayer that she found there helped her through the loss of Max in 1972. Oma was totally devoted to her grandchildren, Rika and Sandra, and she made sure that during their school years, she was always there for them. Oma was a loving wife, a dedicated mother and grandmother, a wonderful cook and baker, and a very proud homemaker. She was a talented knitter and gardener, and for many years took great pride in her beautiful rose garden. Oma will be deeply missed by many friends and relatives, but most especially by her daughter Theresa and her husband Werner, and granddaughters Rika (Guy) and Sandra (Gerry). Oma was rich in the close friends that she had, and the family is very grateful for the support they offered to Oma and to the whole family over the years. Much love and many thanks to Irma Tintori, Linda Poffenroth, Karen and Cy Towson, Ken and Carol Cox, Herbert and Connie Kluger, and Mary Pomanski. Thank you to members of the St. Ignatius prayer group who kept Oma there with them as long as they could, and who continued to pray for her long after she could not be there with them. Many thanks also to the staff at Misericordia Place for their compassionate care of Oma, and to Jenny Isla and Raquel Diez who were such wonderful companions to her. Thank you also to the staff at Victoria Hospital Emergency and Internal Medicine Units who made Oma's last hours as comfortable as possible. Deine Liebe wird immer in unseren Herzen sein und du bleibst uns unvergessen. Begrenzt ist das Leben - unendlich die Erinnerung. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, April 9, at 3:00 p.m. in St. Ignatius Church, 255 Stafford St. A private interment ceremony will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Misericordia Health Centre Foundation, 99 Cornish Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 9Z9. The Coutu family in care of arrangements: E. J. COUTU CO. FUNERAL DIRECTORS 680 Archibald St. 253-5086

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 07, 2011