ERICA HEINRICHS

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ERICA HEINRICHS Our beloved mother Erica Heinrichs was born April 24, 1927 and died peacefully, surrounded by her children and caregivers, on January 30, 2012 at The Convalescent Home of Winnipeg. Erica was the embodiment of unconditional love and touched the lives of many! Her fun-loving spirit and her gulible nature will be greatly missed. Erica grew up on a farm in Oak Bluff where she preferred the outdoor chores to the indoor. She took violin and piano lessons and her love of music carried on throughout her life which she passed on to her children. She married Harry Braun in 1946. They farmed in Fannystille and had three children. In 1959 Erica was widowed (a fatal train accident) and moved to Winnipeg where she first worked at Co-op and then Safeway to support her family. In 1963 she met widower William T. Heinrichs, who also had three children, and in 1964 they married. The family moved to Altona in 1966 and along with Bill's in-laws, Tien and Otto Loewen, ran a grocery and meat store, The Hi-Way Inn. Eight years later, their children grown, Bill and Erica moved back to Winnipeg. Erica worked at the Petro Canada on Grant. In 1993 Bill passed away after a battle with cancer. In 1994 Erica's son Eric (47) suddenly died. She had known much grief. It was through her faith and her continual, positive outlook on life that kept her strong. She was a survivor. Our mother always had a smile for us, for our friends, for everyone she met. She cherished her close friendships that came from different facets of her life which were many. She was a beautiful person inside and out. She leaves to mourn her children Richard (Cheryl), Ken (Jocelyn), Darlene (Patrick), Connie (Jerry) and Glenda (Scott): her grandchildren, Jason, Karl, Kristin (David), Marissa, Jessie and James; great-grandchildren Justice and Greta; her brother Victor (Mary), sister Hilda (Edgar); sisters-in-law Anne Braun, Mary Reimer, Jean Reimer; brothers-in-law Dietrich Reimer, Henry Reimer; numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends; as well as Jean Heinrichs and Alvin Wiebe (Darcy and daughter Sidney), and Hank Peters whose friendship she enjoyed and valued. Funeral service will be held on Monday, February 6 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Mennonite Church, Notre Dame and Alverstone. Interment at Chapel Lawn prior to the service at 9:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Mennonite Central Committee. The family would like to extend special thanks to the staff at The Convalescent Home of Winnipeg. Your amazing care of our mother will be remembered forever. Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened. Dr. Suess

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 04, 2012