FRIEDA IDA STEGINUS (GUTSMANN)

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FRIEDA IDA STEGINUS
(nee GUTSMANN)
January 22, 1926 - November 15, 2019

It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts, but a lifetime of precious memories that we announce the peaceful passing of our mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Frieda Ida Steginus (nee Gutsmann) on November 15, 2019 at age 93 years.
Her incredible life began on January 22, 1926 in Schlessien (then-East) Germany. Her parents, Paul and Emma (nee Werner) had 13 children and her growing-up years involved helping with childcare and household chores.
After completing her schooling, Frieda aspired to teaching kindergarten but the Second World War interrupted her career plans. She spoke rarely of wartime experiences however her disclosures, when offered, were profound - her family hid their Jewish doctor and faced atrocities when the Russians invaded their homestead; she lost a brother who froze to death in Siberia and recalled the deep fear instilled by various sources of likely terrible consequences to one's family/friends/neighbours if one spoke too freely during the Nazi occupation. She spoke of being much alone during the war, displaced from her family, and having to survive with meager resources. Frieda was a shrewd judge of character who readily discerned the wheat from the chaff which likely helped her weather the trials she faced in her young life during the war. A light during this dark period was when she met and married Willi Heinrich Steginus and immigrated to Canada in 1955. They were married 52 years before he passed and together raised a son and daughter whom they had adopted; which children are profoundly grateful for and blessed to have been showered with the many opportunities and untold sacrifices Frieda and Willi made in hopes of their having a better life than they had.
Frieda was an accomplished cook and baker and Willi often commented that her culinary skills won him over. Her grandchildren fondly recall her yeast dumplings with blueberries. She was even invited to Austin Texas to teach a long-time family friend how to make her nut roll! Frieda was a wonderful hostess who fed one and all who crossed her threshold.
Frieda and Willi cultivated many lifetime friends including a lovely family from India who rented an upstairs apartment in their red brick on Grosvenor Avenue. It was fortuitous for their children that the renters were local math and English professors who had a child that became like a sibling to their children. Frieda and Willi cultivated great warmth and openness for/with people from other cultures which gift they passed to their children. A person's character was the hallmark to focus upon was the teaching conveyed. They travelled to Europe, the USA, Mexico and spent many happy times camping and fishing throughout Manitoba and Ontario with friends and family. Mom fondly recalled working for the Everett and Rosenblat families in Winnipeg. After Willi passed on, she travelled with friends on numerous bus tours within Canada and the USA.
For the five years before she died, Frieda was compassionately and tenderly cared for by the staff at St. Joseph's Integrated Care Centre in Lestock, Sk.
She was predeceased by her spouse Willi; sisters, Emma and Martha and brothers, Willi, Richard and Gustav who died in the Second World War and Karl, Paul and Ernst. To treasure her memory, she leaves her children, Evelyn Steginus; Michael Steginus (Carlene) and grandchildren, Melissa (John Martin), Ashley, Lucas and Brooklyn; great- grandchildren, Gage and Parker; sister Erika; brothers, Adolf, Hermann and Erich and numerous nieces and nephews.
Special thanks as well to the Nickel family, and also to Ursula and Erich Hartfiel, Adelgunde Hellman and the Parameswarans for their support to Frieda and her family.
A funeral service to celebrate her life was intended for January, 2020 but due to covid-19, to safeguard health-vulnerable close family from the pandemic, a private family interment was held September 14, 2020.
Friends and family who wish to pay their respects are invited to visit Frieda's gravesite at St. Vital cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation to a charity of one's choice or memorial planting may be made in Frieda's name through Conley Funeral Home in Fort Qu'Appelle, Sk.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 16, 2020