BERTHA HORCH

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BERTHA HORCH 1924 - 2018 Bertha Horch (nee Mammel), beloved wife of the late Reuben Horch, passed on to be with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on Sunday, January 28, 2018 at the age of 93 years. Bertha leaves to cherish her memory seven children: Philip Horch (Annalora) of Medicine Hat, Linda Friesen (Frank) of Winnipeg, Naomi Wall (John) of Winnipeg, Stanley Horch (Rita) of Winnipeg, David Horch (Brenda) of Winnipeg, Mark Horch (Karen) of Calgary and James Horch (Shirley) of Winnipeg; 16 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren - too numerous to mention. She has three surviving siblings: Anna Skaar of North Burnaby, BC, Emma Johannson of Mission, BC and Fred Mammel (Agnes) of Chilliwack, BC; also surviving is sister-in-law Gladys Mammel of Linden, AB. Bertha was predeceased by her parents: Friedrich and Anna Mammel (nee Horth) formerly of Chilliwack, BC; siblings: David, Louise, Lena, Arthur and Albert; and daughter-in-law Patricia Horch. Bertha was born in Klostitz, Bessarabia, Romania in 1924 and immigrated to Canada with her parents and siblings at a very early age. She grew up on a farm in the Viking, AB area in the dirty '30s and then attended Regina Bible Institute in the early 1940s where she met the love of her life, Reuben Horch from Winnipeg. They married in 1945 and after living briefly in Weyburn, SK and Vernon, BC where Reuben pastored, they moved to Winnipeg where they settled for the rest of their years. Here they became active members of Winnipeg's Albright Church where they served and worshiped for the remainder of their lives. Bertha was a stay-at-home mom raising seven children and what a mom she was. Her fantastic cooking and baking skills were known far and wide. Her home was always welcome to friends and strangers alike. Adding another two or three to the dinner table was never a problem. She had the gift of hospitality. Her devoted husband Reuben died suddenly in February 1975 leaving her with three boys still at home. For a time she worked in nearby Peters Supermarket behind the meat counter where she got to make many new friends in her North Kildonan neighbourhood. After she finished raising seven children and being a loving and caring grandma and great-grandma she took on a full time job being a dorm parent to over 100 students at Hillcrest Christian College in Medicine Hat where she was affectionately known to all as "MOM HORCH". After four years Bertha returned to Winnipeg and took in university students from out of town who needed a home-like place to stay. Her list of grandchildren and great-grandchildren just kept growing and she was about to become a great-great-grandma when she passed away. Mom enjoyed reading, baking, gardening, visiting family and enjoying nature. She loved to play hymns on the piano and was a champion at crossword puzzles and trivia. All through the years she never stopped being a mom and she never stopped being a praying mom. Jesus Christ was central to her life and she would pray daily for a long list of an ever-growing family. She will be missed by hundreds who enjoyed her company and hospitality over the years. A memorial celebration of her life will be scheduled at a time and place to be announced. Thank-you to all the staff at Revera Kildonan Personal Care Home who made her final few years so comfortable. Also thank-you to Wheeler Funeral Home for their considerate and professional arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 03, 2018