Lore Blanke Herchen

Lore(Blanke) Herchen was born in Berlin in 1937, but the lives of her musician/ teacher parents were shattered by WW2. Stability came for a few years as she completed high school near Frankfurt. She was an accomplished swimmer, and accordion player and excelled at handicrafts, particularly knitting. She married young, following her adventuresome veterinarian husband to Canada soon after the birth of her oldest son. She loved the Georgian Bay, where her only daughter was born. The family moved to Alberta and by age 29 she had three more sons.

Raised in the city, Mutti embraced country life, feeding the family, working with animals, doing the accounting , being a hockey mom and taking up piano. She achieved Grade 9 Royal Conservatory and developed a core of dedicated students.

Mutti`s ambitious children garnered 11 degrees between them, so she had to wait til her 50`s for grandchildren. Her passion for music and nature is evident in all of them. After her divorce, Mutti took singing and dancing lessons. She was a natural photographer and leaves us with countless beautiful memories of her family visits and other travels. In 2002 Mutti moved to Vernon. Although her health problems slowed her down, she remained the family magnet, drawing her family ``home`` on many occasions. She taught piano until last year and became proficient with her Mac.

Some of her favourite spots to enjoy nature were Kaloya Park, Sawicki Park, Kin Beach and Sovereign Park, where she swam every summer. I would like to thank Jaime, Karen and Caroline for all the time spent with my mother, as well as several residents of the Westmount Apt . Mutti`s passing leaves a great void in the hearts of her family: Harald, Melissa, Sandra and Timmy in California, Erich and Ranratcha in Vancouver, Hans, Noni, Miranda, Alex and Erica in Edmonton, Leonard , Maritza, Erich and Salma in Calgary, and Sylvia, Stewart and the critters in Vernon.

On Feb 9th there was a family service in Vernon. After Easter there will be a celebration of Life in Vernon. Leb` wohl, Liebe Mutti.