KAROLINE KLEIN

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KAROLINE KLEIN
June 1, 1921 – January 6, 2022

Karoline Klein made it to the wonderful age of 100 years and seven months, dying peacefully on January 6, 2022, at George Derby Centre in Burnaby, BC.
She was predeceased by her husband Otto; her son, Helmut; and her sons-in-law, Arthur Abt and Peter Bowie. She is survived by her daughters, Hildegard Abt, Traudy Klein, Erika Krolman (Ranald), and Monika Klein (Dennis Combs); her sons, Hank Klein (Marion), Eric Klein (Sue), and Alfred Klein (Brenda); daughter-in-law Linda Klein; 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
She was born Karoline Rink on June 1, 1921, to German parents in Letnia, which was then in Poland but is now in Ukraine. In 1942, she married Otto Klein. In 1944, while Otto was away fighting in the war, ethnic Germans were expelled from Poland and she had to flee with her two young children and her mother in a horse-drawn wagon, which she drove. In 1951, after years of living in Germany in camps and temporary housing, the couple and their now five children came to Winnipeg. They first lived in Weston and afterwards in the North End. Three more children arrived, and there were now eight: four boys and four girls. Life for Mum was full: tending to a vegetable garden and indoor and outdoor flowering plants; preserving and pickling; and socializing with relatives (including frequent phone calls with her brother Adolf who had also settled in Winnipeg with his wife and children) and friends, among them neighbours with whom she could speak Ukrainian, her second language. In 1979, she and Dad moved to New Westminster, BC, joining four of their children who were already living in the area. There she enjoyed the more relaxed pace that comes with no longer having to look after a house and garden. Still, her love of flowers and of tending to them remained strong, with a stand of pretty African violets indoors and pots of red geraniums on the balcony.
Mum was a lively, hard-working, determined, independent-minded, dignified, charming woman, who, above all, loved her family. We are so sad she's gone.
Graveside funeral was held on February 18; arrangements by Forest Lawn Funeral Home in Burnaby.

Publish Date: Feb 19, 2022

KAROLINE KLEIN
June 1, 1921 - January 6, 2022

Karoline Klein made it to the wonderful age of 100 years and seven months, dying peacefully on January 6, 2022, at George Derby Centre in Burnaby, B.C.
She was predeceased by her husband Otto; her son Helmut; and her sons-in-law, Arthur Abt and Peter Bowie. She is survived by her daughters, Hildegard Abt, Traudy Klein, Erika Krolman (Ranald), and Monika Klein (Dennis Combs); sons, Hank Klein (Marion), Eric Klein (Sue), and Alfred Klein (Brenda); daughter-in-law Linda Klein; 13 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
She was born Karoline Rink on June 1, 1921, to German parents in Letnia, which was then in Poland but is now in Ukraine. In 1942, she married Otto Klein. In 1944, while Otto was away fighting in the war, ethnic Germans were expelled from Poland and she had to flee with her two young children and her mother in a horse-drawn wagon, which she drove. In 1951, after years of living in Germany in camps and temporary housing, the couple and their now five children came to Winnipeg. They first lived in Weston and afterwards in the North End. Three more children arrived, and there were now eight: four boys and four girls. Life for Mum was full: tending to a vegetable garden and indoor and outdoor flowering plants; preserving and pickling; and socializing with relatives (including frequent phone calls with her brother Adolf who had also settled in Winnipeg with his wife and children) and friends, among them neighbours with whom she could speak Ukrainian, her second language. In 1979, she and Dad moved to New Westminster, B.C., joining four of their children who were already living in the area. There she enjoyed the more relaxed pace that comes with no longer having to look after a house and garden. Still, her love of flowers and of tending to them remained strong, with a stand of pretty African violets indoors and pots of red geraniums on the balcony.
Mum was a lively, hard-working, determined, independent-minded, dignified, charming woman, who, above all, loved her family. We are so sad she's gone.
A graveside funeral will be held on February 18; arrangements by Forest Lawn Funeral Home in Burnaby.

Publish Date: Feb 17, 2022

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 17, 2022, Feb 19, 2022