Katherine Bohn Lauinger

1925-2011

Hello. My name is Jake Moore. I’m Katherine Lauinger’s oldest grandson. Apologies from my Aunties and Uncles, but none of them could get through a eulogy for their Mom without breaking down, so the honour fell to me. I think this says everything about my Grandma. Those who knew her best are feeling her loss deeply. I know I am. Grandma was always quick with a cookie or a hug. Usually both, so please bare with me if I get a little emotional too. Someone precious has been taken from us, and even if it was for the best, at the moment it feels like we will never be whole again.

Katherine Bohn was born in Kerrobert, Saskatchewan on January 26, 1925. She was the oldest of ten children. Helping look after nine younger siblings was no doubt good training for the six kids of her own that were to follow. Grandma was intelligent and adventurous, and left the familiar surroundings of the family farm in Saskatchewan to become a teacher at a time when not many women - especially women from Prairie farming families - pursued professional careers. Grandma started teaching in the proverbial one room schoolhouse on the Prairies, instructing kids from grades one to twelve. Among her first pupils were her little brothers, Raymond and Leo, distracted students who weren’t all that impressed by Grandma’s attempts at discipline. Luckily for Grandma she could report Raymond and Leo’s indiscretions to their Father on a nightly basis, and their Dad would then ensure that appropriate measures were taken to address behavioural issues!

My Grandpa, Peter Lauinger, met Katherine through a mutual friend, and was immediately taken by Grandma’s beauty. Her great cooking probably didn’t hurt either. After a whirlwind romance Katherine and Peter married on August 4, 1956. The kids followed shortly thereafter. Linda was first, followed in rapid succession by Sarina, Shari, John, David and Dennis. Six kids in nine years. An even more impressive feat when you consider that Grandpa broke his back in an industrial accident shortly after Shari was born, and spent a good portion of the next several years in and out of hospitals having his spine fused.

It is this period of Grandma’s life that for me best exemplifies her strength, courage and determination. After my Uncle David was born, Grandma had five children under the age of six, three of whom were under the age of three, and a husband that was more often than not in the hospital. The family was living is Spokane, Washington at the time, and Grandma didn’t have a valid driver’s license, so she would load her five kids on the bus and head off to the hospital to visit Grandpa. Anyone with children knows what a logistical nightmare five kids on a bus can be, and will appreciate just how emotionally drained and physically exhausted Grandma must have been in those days. I don’t know how she was able to face up to the tremendous challenges that confronted her every day.

But face up she did. And while money was tight and life must have seemed overwhelming at times, she handled it with grace. The family didn’t know that money was tight or that Grandma was tired. She kept that to herself. All they knew was that they felt loved, safe and happy. Grandma never complained about her life or wished for things she didn’t have. Possessions meant nothing to her, because she had everything she wanted. She had her family. She asked for nothing and she gave her family everything, especially her love, unconditionally. Later in life, when she finally came into some money, she never spent it on herself. In her typical style, she simply gave it to her children.

You will meet very few people in your life that give more to you than they ask in return. My Grandma was one of those people.

But life wasn’t simply a bleak version of Dickens “Hard Times” for Grandma. I’m happy to say that she was very pragmatic, and she eventually decided that she wasn’t going to let a little thing like not having a valid driver’s license stop her from driving. Sure, it made the streets of Spokane a little more dangerous, but it also made visits to the hospital a lot more enjoyable.

Grandma was very social. She loved a good laugh, and there were many things that brought her enjoyment. She loved to work in her garden, and was especially proud of her strawberries, cucumbers, tomatoes and zucchinis. She had a thousand and one recipes for zucchini - which was a couple too many, as there are a few places where zucchini simply shouldn’t be allowed. The harvest from her garden was always bountiful, and kept her busy canning. Grandma always made sure she put up enough canned peaches, pears and dill pickles to get her family through the winter. Grandma also liked making homemade wine - which she and Grandpa Peter seemed to enjoy, even if no one else did!

Grandma enjoyed travelling. Well, she enjoyed it as much someone with an intense fear of flying can enjoy it. She did manage to squeeze in trips to Whistler, Leavenworth, Reno, Victoria, Kelowna and Tramping Lake (Saskatchewan), and she particularly enjoyed an Alaskan Cruise she took with Grandpa Peter.

She was an excellent knitter and a master of the crochet hook - though it must be said that her tendency to not let any old wool go to waste did result in some rather garish slipper and blanket colour combinations! When time and six kids allowed she also loved to dance with Grandpa Peter, particularly waltzes, polkas and square dancing, and she loved to play her piano and accordion. She loved playing board and card games with her grandkids, and more than one unsuspecting grandchild fell victim to her “Go Fish” prowess. Scrabble and cribbage were favourites (she even managed to win the Lauinger family Christmas cribbage tournament one year), as was a game that she passed off as bridge that she taught to Uncle John, which they would play for hours with Grandpa.

Grandma was a devout Catholic, and until her hips gave out she attended Mass daily. She was a member of the Catholic Women’s league and participated in the church prayer circle, only occasionally falling asleep during her one hour prayer sessions.

The last twelve years have been hard on Grandma. She has grieved the loss of her husband, Peter, and her son-in-law, my father, Rowland Moore, both of whom she loved dearly. She battled through two hip replacement operations and suffered the frustrations and pain that come with diminished mobility and old age. Through it all she faced life cheerfully and with dignity. She thanked God for her many blessings, and preferred to focus on the growing ranks of her grandchildren: Rachel, Jake, Eric, Claire, Tyler, Georgia, Aiden, Hallie, Anna, James, Peter and Markus. I know that she adored us all and was immensely proud of us.

This New Years’ Eve Grandma blessed us yet again. She summoned what little strength she had left so that she could celebrate one last time with her family. Sitting with my Auntie Shari and my cousins Claire, Georgie and Hopper in Lion’s Gate Hospital’s palliative lounge on New Year’s Eve, Auntie Shari asked Grandma what words of advice she had to give her grandchildren. Grandma offered this, and I offer it now to you:

Be kind;

Be truthful;

Be honest;

Be fair;

Always forgive one another;

And always love one another.

Thank you for being here to celebrate my Grandma’s life with us.

* * * * * * * * * *

Katherine Lauinger

January 26, 1925 – January 6, 2011

Katherine Lauinger, age 85 years, passed away peacefully at Lions Gate Hospice, North Vancouver, BC with her six children at her side.

She is lovingly remembered by her daughters Linda Moore, Sarina (Eldon) Sanderson and Shari (Norman) van Roggen and her sons John (Hallein), David (Janet) and Dennis (Denise), as well as her grandchildren Rachel, Jake, Eric, Claire, Tyler, Georgia, Aiden, Hallie, Anna, James, Peter and Markus.

Katherine was predeceased by her husband Peter and her son-in-law Rowland Moore.

Katherine was born in Kerrobert, Saskatchewan, the oldest of ten children. At age 18 she left the farm at Tramping Lake to become a teacher. She started her teaching career in the proverbial one room prairie schoolhouse eventually teaching in several other schools throughout Saskatchewan, Alberta and BC. She married Peter and moved to Spokane, Washington where they started their family. They later moved to Kelowna, B.C. to happily raise their six children on their small orchard paradise. They spent many happy years raising their family. When they retired they followed their children to North Vancouver where they enjoyed spending time with their grandchildren.

Mom was the centre of our family, and we will forever miss her.

Special thanks to the incredible nursing staff at the Lions Gate Hospice, who treated both our Mom and our families with such gentleness, respect and kindness. We will be forever grateful.

Prayers will be held at 7:00 pm on Monday, January 17th, with a funeral mass to be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, January 18th. Both events will be held at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 2725 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver, BC. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lions Gate Hospice Society by mail or online. Please visit www.hollyburnfunerals.com for more information and to sign Mom's guest book.