There are so many times I remember my favourite "Lady", a name given to her by our daughter when she was little.  If I make schnitzel,  perogies, homemade sauerkraut, rouladin, pea soup...I think of Frieda.  She taught me most of what I know about cooking. She was kind and generous with us all our lives and I miss her often.   You are with me always "Lady".

Thanks for providing all these pictures Petra and Klaus.  They bring back so many memories. I will always remember the kindness and patience of Tante Frieda which really shone through to me in these last years when I saw her regularly at the apartment. And she sure had a great sense of humor! 

Dear, sweet Lady - I don't think I ever called her Frieda once in my life. Was it too hard to say? I can't remember. I do remember she always had a garden fit for fairies, with a raspberry patch and dahlias as big as melons. I remember that Nutella was a table staple at Lady and Papa Schade's, which meant I was always an eager breakfast guest. I remember the look Lady would give Gerhard when he'd been too cheeky - a look that said, "just try me..." 

My earliest memories of Halloween are dressed as a frizzy-haired little princess at their house, as I spent the first few years of my life in the house next door to theirs. Lady knew all the tricks of getting my baby self to sleep - "put her by a window," she'd tell my mom - and it worked wonders apparently. She had a way with kids. 

I remember she had the comfiest feather bed in the guest room, which was really two big beds pushed together, and made for the dreamiest of sleeps. I remember big, German meals, with potato pancakes, rouladen, good wine, and an endless supply of various treats and cookies.  I remember Lady always had an Advent calendar for me every year at Christmas - literally, every single year, even into my thirties. She knew how to spoil with a wink and a quiet smile. She had a very happy laugh. And that's how I remember her best. Smiling and laughing. Dear sweet Lady. You will be missed! You were so loved in life and will continue to be in death. I hope you're resting easy now, tending to a garden in the clouds somewhere. Love you always. 

We, the Boterman family lived just up the street from the Schades.  The younger ones of our family grew up with Klaus and Petra as friends, a friendship that continues to this day.  Although I have few memories of Mrs. Schade, I do remember her sunny, smiling face and her laughter.  Deepest sympathies to the entire Schade family.  

my Tante Frieda was always an exceptionally cheerful person. Always had a smile and a laugh.   She was very independent. Although she didn't drive, she didn't rely on others to give her a ride. She was confident with figuring out how to use public transit, even when it meant taking the bus to Freeport every day for years in order to help her paralyzed mother with lunch.  And that is an example of how she was willing to put her own life on hold in order to do the right thing for someone else.

I met Frieda 35 years ago when I moved in next door.  She babysat my daughter when she was a baby and Gerhard and Frieda treated her like their own daughter.  My daughter always called her Lady and that name has stuck through the years.  She was an expert with babies and had all the best tips in putting babies to sleep , potty training etc. Frieda was a wonderful cook and baker.   I have wonderful German recipes from her and learned how to cook perogies, cabbage rolls, pea soup, schnitzel , hazel nut cake ...all from scratch.   Every year we made sauerkraut together in their basement. 
I have so any wonderful memories of both Gerhard and Frieda....they were members of the  Schwaben club and invited us to the true German Otoberfest yearly with live music and dancing.  
"Lady" didnt have many worldly things but she shared everything with me.  I will truly miss my wonderful loving Lady.

OBITUARY

Mrs. Frieda Schade

13 March, 1930 – 1 November, 2020

Westmount Memorial Celebration Centre

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