ELLY LYDIA HEBER (HUNDT)

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ELLY LYDIA HEBER (HUNDT) Elly Heber died peacefully, in the arms of her granddaughter Martha, on the evening of November 21, 2003, at her home in Rimmer House, Lions Manor. She had just celebrated her 89th birthday. Elly was born November 8, 1914 in Dombrowa, Poland. When she was a young child, her family immigrated to Canada. Elly grew up with her three brothers and one sister on her fathers homestead near Meeting Lake, SK. In 1936, Elly married Henry Heber of Speers, SK, where they farmed for many years. There, they also started their family, eventually having five children. In 1945 the family moved to Point Douglas, in Winnipegs North End. In her new city, she started a life-long devotion to many social causes. She volunteered her time in local social and recreational centres, such as Sutherland Mission and Norquay Neighbourhood House. At the age of 47 she obtained her Licensed Practical Nurses certificate and went on to work at the St. Boniface Hospital, the Rehabilitation Hospital and the Womens Pavilion (now part of the Health Sciences Centre.) Elly developed a keen interest in community activism. She founded and became the first president of the Point Douglas Ratepayers Association. In this role, she presented briefs to City Hall on curbing the expansion of scrap yards and feed mills, creating public transit routes, and cleaning up the shoreline of the Red River in Point Douglas. In this way, she attempted to improve the quality of life and community for the residents of this forgotten area of Winnipeg. Elly ran for City Council in 1971 under the NDP banner, and although she was not successful, she remained active and interested in local politics and issues of social justice for many years. She was a friend and early mentor to several politicians. She also became very interested in the history of her neighbourhood. She founded the Point Douglas Historical Society and, as president of this organization, fought to preserve some of the historically significant landmarks in her neighbourhood. She was instrumental in saving Barber House, one of the oldest standing residences in Winnipeg, which was built in 1862. She collected many stories of early settlers by interviewing those still alive and living in Point Douglas. These archived interviews became an important source of the social history of Winnipeg. In recognition of Ellys many contributions, the City of Winnipeg presented her with a Community Service Award in 1982. Despite growing up poor and having little early formal education, Elly developed an interest in the arts and music. In her 60s, she attended university and took art classes. She became an accomplished painter and wrote poetry, publishing a volume of her poems at the age of 72. She was a member of the Winnipeg Seniors Choir, and attended the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, and the Manitoba Opera Company. She spent her spare time with her family and many friends. One of her favourite spots in Winnipeg was Eatons on Portage and Donald, where she was a regular for lunch in the Grill Room. During her later years, as her health declined, she moved into Lions Manor, and then one of its specialized floors called Rimmer House. Here, she was lovingly cared for by the staff members, whom her son, Luther, often referred to as "the angels of Rimmer". Despite her many interests and accomplishments, Ellys children never doubted that her family was her first priority. When her husband, Henry, became ill with diabetes and heart disease, she gave up work and her many community activities to stay at home and nurse him until his death in 1973. Her greatest loss was when her oldest son, Walter, died in an airplane crash while serving in the Canadian Forces in 1963. Elly was a person with great courage, creativity, and determination. These qualities have been an inspiration to her children, grandchildren, and many who knew her. Elly will be remembered by her children, Marie and husband Case Komada of Winnipeg; Alexandra Sharon, and husband Richard Handfield-Jones and children, Nicholas and William of Ottawa and Martha (Fortier) of Winnipeg; Luther and children, James and Robert of Winnipeg, and Katherine (Carter) of Hazelridge, MB; Wesley and wife Lourdes of Saskatoon, SK and children, Jacqueline of Vancouver and Walter of Washington DC; daughter-in-law Catharine Heber of Lethbridge, AB and children, James and Wayne of Winnipeg and Pamela (Evetts) of Lethbridge; her siblings: Anne and husband Bill Kohut of Selkirk, MB; Ron and wife Linda Hunt of Darlington, England; Otto and wife Mamie Hundt of Strasbourg, SK; sister-in-law Adele Hundt of Medstead, SK, and much-loved great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Elly was predeceased by her husband, Ernest Heinrich (Henry) Heber; her son, Walter Heber and her brother Erwin Hundt. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 20 at St. Marks Lutheran Church, 600 Cambridge St. (at Corydon), Winnipeg. All who knew Elly are welcome. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the staff of Rimmer House and to Dr. Mike Dillon and Joan Saxton RN, of Klinic Community Health Centre. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Rimmer House, Lions Manor, 320 Sherbrook St., Winnipeg, MB, R3B 2W6.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 06, 2003