Monika Hollett (nee Bornemeier - Prachtel) was born in Germany, as an only child, when WWII ended. She was surrounded by aunts, uncles and cousins. She was raised during a time when resources were minimal and the family had to be creative to provide basic needs, until the economy improved. Monika was resilient as she grew up quickly and had to learn to adapt to difficult circumstances.
Moving forward as a young adult, Monika married Charles, travelled to Canada, adjusted to a new culture, and learned a new language. Monika and Charles (Charlie) met when he was deployed in Germany with the Canadian Armed Forces. They both enjoyed music and dancing and met at a local dance club. They were known to shake a leg together and that's where the romance started. It helped that Charles also learned how to speak German, so they could get to know each other beyond the dance floor. Moving to Canada was an exciting new adventure but also a challenging one. Despite any adversity in her early years, and when coming to Canada, Monika succeeded in achieving many of her goals. One of which was becoming a proud Canadian Citizen.
Her life time passion and success was helping others. Monika had a very giving heart and wanted to return to work in the medical field/helping profession. Monika started her career working for a Doctor's office in Germany. When she married, moved to Canada, and had children, her career was put on hold. Due to Charles's work with the Armed Forces, they moved to many cities in Germany, and many provinces across Canada from the East Coast to the West Coast. Monika demonstrated resiliency when having to adapt to new surroundings, and always finding new employment.
They eventually settled for the last time in Cambridge, Ontario and Monika returned to school. She had many proud achievements but finishing college with top marks despite English as her second language was one of her memorable moments.
After completing college Monika was initially employed at Eventide Home and Preston Spring Gardens. Then she worked for over 20 years at Freeport Hospital in Kitchener (earning perfect attendance awards) as an RNA until her retirement. Monika spoke about how much she enjoyed her work, and some of the famous people she cared for including the Massey Family. Often patients would ask for her as she was attentive, caring and funny. She often made her patients feel good despite being ill.
Monika excelled in many things. She was excellent in school in her early years, as well as when returning to college as an adult, and she was often in the top of her class. She enjoyed many topics; math, history, geography, and religion. She was also an athlete and enjoyed many sports related activities and was the fastest runner in her school for many years. Monika shared with a smirk that she also beat the boys in races, which was a noted achievement. She enjoyed religion; attending church often in her younger years. In later years, she extended further interest in these topics by finding fascination in world history and politics. Her memory for these details was amazing. She never stopped learning and was a wealth of information on many topics and interests, of which she enjoyed conversing with friends and strangers alike.
Monika was always an avid reader. She was fascinated by stories when she was young as she would be transported to new experiences and different worlds on page. She read on many subjects but mainly adventure books.
In her later years Monika enjoyed detective, mystery and Sci-Fi novels. She loved board games and competition, and this family activity was very fun. Her interest in history, geography and politics won her many games on family night.
Monika also had a interest in a variety of activities over the years such as bowling, gardening, knitting, sewing and playing squash. She and her husband canoed the Grand River, still exercising their adventurous side. Anything that she endeavored to do, she excelled at. She broke a few high score bowling records during her time on bowling leagues as well.
She enjoyed watching a variety of television shows and movies that were also detective or Sci- fi in nature. She relished discussing the shows and would frequently pause to discuss details or possible outcomes. This also meant that a one hour film was the very extended intermission version. Movie night required drinks, popcorn, blankets and pillows.
Monika enjoyed nature, travel and animals which she passed this interest onto her children. She and Charles moved and travelled around Germany and across Canada. This offered unique educational opportunities to see many monuments, and points of interest. The family tradition was to take photos in front of the highway and city signs. It was a great way to remember all the places the family had been. What better way to learn about history than actually being on the road! Monika's children were thankful that the family spent time doing adventurous things. Even once settling in Cambridge, Monika and Charles continued to take short distance trips and border crossing adventures. They travelled to points of interest, local museums and heritage sights; from the West Edmonton Mall and Lake Louise to Washington D.C. to see the cherry blossoms.
Camping was a big part of family activities for many years with several tents, trailers and boats acquired over the years. This allowed the family to travel to many places and enjoy nature. Monika's family camped in many locations: Overseas in Spain and France and across Canada ( from the West Coast in British Columbia to the East Coast of the Maritimes). The family also ventured to the United States. At one camping location, Warren Dunes- Michigan, they learned that the site was 'frog' territory which hysterically kept the family up all night. Boating was also an adventure. With Charles at the helm of the boat, family members enjoyed shrimp, bass and rainbow trout fishing in British Columbia and Ontario.
Monika loved animals and throughout the years the family always enjoyed having a family pet which included dogs, cats and fish. Initially the pets were adopted for the benefit of the children, but all animals were loved by the entire family.
After retiring Monika and Charles returned to British Columbia to recapture living in a beautiful climate. They often spent times walking on the beach, in the cathedral forest and meandering through the Botanical, Butchart and Butterfly Gardens. After living on Vancouver Island for a few years, they longed to return home to Ontario. They resettled in Cambridge once again, finding joy being with family and around familiar places.
Monika was diagnosed with stage 4 CANCER and braved this battle for some time until her passing on March 23, 2019. Despite knowing she was palliative she tried several types of treatments to slow down the growth and manage the pain. Monika died the way she lived; on her terms. She had the tenacity to fight it the way she wanted, and was able to be as independent as possible and enjoy her remaining days at home. She was supported by a very caring palliative nursing team along with her loving family at home. She will be remembered for many things, some of which are her love, humour, intelligence, honesty, determination, and perseverance.
Here is her obituary as it appeared in the Cambridge Times on Thursday, April 25th:
With heavy hearts, we announce that heaven has taken our mother, Monika Hollett (nee Bornemeier). Monika will be remembered as an intelligent, funny, loving and caring person, and will be forever missed by her surviving children, Jackie and Christine Hollett, and relatives in Canada and Germany. Passed away bravely and peacefully from cancer on March 23, 2019, age 73. Predeceased by her husband Charles (Charlie) Hollett in 2014. She was born and raised in Germany and started a career in the medical field. When she married Charles they travelled and moved to many places in Germany and across Canada, until settling in Cambridge, Ontario for the last 40 years. She worked and continued her education, while raising her children. Before retirement Monika worked over 20 years at Freeport Hospital in Kitchener as an RNA. In keeping with her wishes, she was cremated and joined Charles at Mount View Cemetery in Cambridge. A private ceremony will occur at a later date. As Mom adored animals, if desired, memorial donations can be made to the Cambridge & District Humane Society. If you would like to send a message or contact the family, please comment on the website.
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