It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of beloved mother, and oma, Alice Bischoff (Meister) on the evening of Friday, July 23, 2021. Alice was born on May 30, 1925 in the German settlement of Rosenfeld in Southern Russia (which is now in the Ukraine). Her father, Heinrich, and mother, Maria, worked in agriculture before WWII. Life was tough during the political and economic turmoil of the time. Alice had one sister, Ella, and one brother, Walter (both predeceased).
Alice immigrated to Canada from Bremen, Germany in May 1950, landing in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She was sponsored by and worked for a family farm in Middle Lake, Saskatchewan before eventually settling in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1952. It is there she reconnected with and married John Bischoff in August 1953 and where they raised their 3 children, Betty, Peter, and Arthur. Alice and John were incredibly hard-working in order to build their new life in a new country. Alice worked briefly at an upholstery plant early on, but mainly as a landlady in their apartment building and as a housewife.
Alice was a long-time resident of Burnaby and was involved with the German-speaking social Klub Erika/Alpen Club over the years. She was an extremely warm, kind, sweet and generous person, maintaining many long-term friendships and had a special love and pride for all of her grandchildren. She enjoyed going for walks, travelling, reading, gathering with friends and family, cooking, and gardening. Alice was one-in-a-million and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her during her remarkably long life.
Alice is survived by her sons Peter (grandchildren Francis, Juliane, and Alex, and partner Diane), and Arthur (wife Pam, and grandchildren Marisa and Bailey), niece Inge Stork and family, nephews Helmut Meister and family, and Manfred Meister and family, and nephew Karl-Heinz Schneider (wife Christel, and family). She is predeceased by her husband John (2000), and her daughter Betty (1978).
The family would like to express a special thank you to all the staff of the Fair Haven Care Home in Burnaby for all of the care and attention they provided to Alice in her final days and facilitating family meetings during the challenges presented by the pandemic. We are deeply grateful.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to The Alzheimer’s Society of BC or MADD. We welcome any photos and/or stories you have of Alice.
