ELSE SCHROEDER (RISTAU)

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ELSE SCHROEDER (nee RISTAU) Suddenly, Else Schroeder passed away, peacefully, on August 18. 2011, at Meadowood Manor. She was predeceased by her husband, Robert Schroeder in 1993, and is survived by her daughter, Gabriele (Alan); son, Henry (Carol); three grandchildren, Kirsten, Justin, and Simone; and a sister, Berta Numrich; as well as, numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Else was born a German-Russian, on March 7, 1919, in the village of Federofka, in present day, Ukraine. Orphaned as a child, she lived through exile in Siberia as the daughter of a kulak, spent the war years in East Prussia, and was then taken as a prisoner of war back into the Soviet Union until 1947. In 1952, she married Robert Schroeder (also a Russian P.O.W. survivor) in Pinneberg, Germany. They immigrated to Canada in July 1953, upon the ship called the Beaverbrae. Together, they embraced their new life in Canada, with determination and hope. Else was very proud of her Canadian citizenship. Whether it was at the Old Dutch Potato Chip factory, in her sunny St. James garden, or at her beloved Lake Winnipeg cottage, Else worked hard, but also always reached out to her community. In later years, she maintained her independence in spite of injuries from a car accident, and then more recently, she stayed bright and chipper in the nursing home. In every sense of the word, she was a survivor. She loved life and never took the simple, good things for granted. Thank you to Meadowood Manor for your encouraging and positive atmosphere. Thank you to Rowandale Baptist Church for always keeping our mother in your extended family. Thank you also to Tuxedo Extendicare for your warm, personal, interim care. Thank you to the many long time (and new) friends who gave our little mother a smile, some time, and some kind words. She appreciated you all! She will be deeply missed, but our memory of her will stay strong. Gladiolas were her favorite flower. Monetary donations in Else's memory will be gratefully acknowledged by Meadowood Manor Foundation, 577 St. Anne's Road, Winnipeg, MB R2M 5B2 The funeral will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 24, at Chapel Lawn, 4000 Portage Avenue. Chapel Lawn Funeral Home and Reception Centre 885-9713

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 20, 2011