ELFRIEDE (FRIEDEL) ALBANI

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ELFRIEDE (FRIEDEL) ALBANI

Friedel passed on November 21, 2022.
She leaves behind to cherish her memory: daughter Lydia Margaret Braid; son Ralph Albani (Elizabeth); grandchildren, Carolyne Braid (Brett); Joe Dee Braid (Shelley); Alex Albani (Sarah); great-grandchildren, Aria, Noah, Jordan, Justin and Sierra; and brother-in-law Guenter Tuttahs, all of whom have been sworn to secrecy regarding Friedel's "actual" age. She took great pride in her youthful good looks and revelled when folks frequently underestimated her age by 15 or 20 years. She worked at it, never leaving the house without perfect hair, make-up, and well-coordinated wardrobe choices.
For the curious, Friedel was as old as "Time" itself. The magazine that is.
Elfriede and her husband Hans, who passed in 1991, left family behind in Germany and came to Canada in 1952 to make a new life. And make a full, new life, they did. Young daughter Margaret (Lydia) joined them a year later and son Ralph was born in 1954. Friedel and Hans enjoyed the company of many friends and co-workers as Hans' career grew and Friedel went from homemaker to "Eatonian", a label she would wear with great pride for the rest of her life.
She worked at Eaton's for 32 years. From clerk to manager, Friedel spent time selling watches and fabrics, china and notions, helped open the Polo Park store and managed everything except the furniture department during her retail career. She was very good at it, she loved it and she made countless "Eatonian" friends, all but a few of whom she outlived.
Following her retirement, she and Hans enjoyed travel and the company of friends and family. Entertaining became a passion. An extraordinary cook, (her chocolate cake and potato salad are "Legendary"), she laboured to create fabulous meals and wonderful gatherings for friends and family. Holiday events, and especially Christmas Eve's with the family raised the bar even further as all who attended were showered with extraordinary gifts. Of course, Friedel was the "complete" shopper. Years of walking the aisles of Eaton's armed with an employee discount, she took the bargains as they came. In fact, a basement room in their Charleswood home was always well-stocked with appliances, bedding, flatware, toys and more, ready for gifting.
Always driven to achieve; always committed to enhancing the lives of those around her; after her husband Hans passed, Friedel focused her considerable energies and stunning work ethic on her children, and their children. As the parents worked, Gramma looked after the kids, and the households, and the pets. No sacrifice on her part was too large. No detail too small. Each member of the family has their own, unique, and special memories. Mother/Gramma was deeply invested and involved in each child, grandchild, and great-grandchild's life.
Friedel never stopped. Into her 90s, she served as a deputy returning officer for several municipal, provincial, and federal elections. For over a decade, she volunteered at Folklorama and the Kirstkindle Market. After her younger sister Helga passed, she attended to her brother-in-law Guenter. She remained sturdily independent into her late 90s, driving friends and family to their appointments, cleaning her large apartment, cooking and baking for family and charity events.
Shortly after "finally" moving into a retirement community in 2021, Friedel's health declined. Her last few months were spent in Victoria Hospital, and her last days in care at West Park Manor. Our thanks to those who cared for her during the dependent phase of her decline.
Friedel is happier now. She's with Hans and family...and looking to reorganize Heaven. She always needed to have a project on the go.
A Funeral Mass is scheduled for 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at St. John Brebeuf Church. Cremation has taken place. Interment will occur this spring.
Flowers gratefully declined. For those who desire, donations to CancerCare are greatly appreciated.

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Chapel Lawn Funeral Home
204-885-9715

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 24, 2022