Grace Eleanor Dibben Voelker

VOELKER, Grace Eleanor (nee Dibben) January 6, 1919 - March 10, 2011 Grace passed away peacefully in her sleep at 4:00 a.m. at her home in Waterloo with her daughters, Cathy and Sue by her side. Grace was predeceased by her high school sweetheart and husband, Charles E. (Charlie) Voelker (1986), cherished son John Charles, (1973), and infant brother, Joseph Bryce Dibben. She was born at 44 Hohner Avenue, Kitchener, to Robert Gwyn and Marion Eleanor (Bryce) Dibben. Her sister, Mrs. Margaret Forbes (Jack), continues to be a loving and supportive Aunt to Grace's family. Both Dibben sisters enjoyed the nick-name "Dib" or "Dibby" She is survived by her daughters, Marion Sue Mansell (Peter), Catherine Anne (Cathy) Voelker, former daughter-in-law, Elaine Schmidt (Ron) and sister-in-law, Mrs. Philip Voelker - all of Waterloo. Adored grandmother of Heather Elizabeth Mansell, of Long Beach, CA, David Charles Mansell (Meghan Sims) of Waterloo, and Margaret Grace Mansell (Darren Hutz) of Toronto and Karen Donahower of Fairport, NY; Grandma Grace (G.G.) to Jennifer Hendrick (Steve) of Saskatoon and Philip Schmidt (Denise Mortley) of Guelph. Grace was thrilled to have five great-grandchildren: Olivia Grace, Spencer and Owen Donahower; Justine and Rachel Hendrick. She attended Suddaby School. She became the Head Girl at KCI and the Queen of Sangerfest at age 16. Grace also attended Ontario Ladies College in Whitby, ON. Her wedding took place August 31, 1940 at Trinity United Church. We are fortunate to have 16 mm coloured movies of this event. Grace had been a member of Emmanuel United Church In Waterloo. She worked at Ed Bergman Jewellers from 1961 to its closing. She then worked at Frank's Jewellers until her retirement at 69. She was an avid knitter and enjoyed her Bridge Club group for many years. Her kindness, gentle nature and good sense of humour will be greatly missed by family and many friends. Grace chose cremation with no funeral visitation nor funeral. She will be interred at Mount Hope Cemetery in a private family gathering. In honour of her own handicapped son, John, Grace has requested that donations be made to "Kate's Kause" - a charity named for Kate Meissner who has Angelman Syndrome. "Kate's Kause" is currently raising funds for an accessible playground in the Woolwich community. Please make cheques payable to: WRFF (Woolwich Recreational Facilities Foundation) by mail through Ratz-Bechtel Funeral Home , 621 King Street West, Kitchener, ON N2G 1C7 519-745-9495. Or, to donate on-line, please visit: www.kateskause.com Thanks to Sandy of Paramed, Brittany and Kate of Bayshore and all the staff at CCAC for helping to make it possible for Grace to spend her last days in her own home. Online condolences may be left at www.ratzbechtelfuneralhome.com