Elisabeth Kriese

Elisabeth Kriese was known as many things to many people. She was a loved one, a friend, and someone special. To family and friends who knew her best, Elisabeth will be remembered as a very exceptional person.

She was the daughter of Elisabeth and Karl Gerd Wilken. Elisabeth grew up in Hannover Germany.

Elisabeth was the youngest of five siblings. Heinerich, Gustav, Karl , Diedrich, Christine and Dora. Elisabeth was usually involved in all sorts of activities with her siblings. She and her siblings experienced rivalries typical of a growing family, but they shared many life experiences over the years.

As a young girl, Elisabeth had a number of interests. Like most children, she enjoyed playing and making up games. She was curious about the world around her and was often eager to explore it. Elisabeth was an active child who took part in Soccer and Gymnastics, music, reading, painting and drawing. However, to Elisabeth, the most fun to be had was simply playing. Her fondest memories are those spent in the convent as a young child with Sister Barbara and spending time with her friends and cousins.

Elisabeth enjoyed her college years, which may have been a challenge with all of the academics and responsibilities and the war years. But, Elisabeth was able to manage the balancing act. She earned her Certification Accounting and later pursued a Bachelors of Commerce Degree.

Always considered a “good” friend to those she knew, Elisabeth enjoyed a broad group of very close friends and acquaintances during her lifetime. While growing up, some of her best friends were Margaret and her cousin Edith.

Empathic and loyal, Elisabeth was committed to making her new family happy.

Elisabeth worked hard to be a good mother to her children and she did her best to fulfill their needs. Elisabeth was blessed with three children, Karin, Karl and Barbara. Another blessing for Elisabeth was the gift of six grandchildren, Karl Gerd, Elisabeth, Alana, Kaitlin, Kyra and Kandace.

Fortunately, Elisabeth enjoyed what she did for a living. Showing a strong work ethic, Elisabeth worked diligently and did her best to succeed in her career. Her primary occupation was Book Keeper and an accountant. She was employed with the Commerce Bank, A. Clarke Roofing Mr. John's Restaurant, Book-Keeping and Co- Owner with her husband Helmuth of a number of Barbershops and Beauty salons throughout Edmonton area. Elisabeth always sought to be a team player, doing what was necessary in order to get the job done.

Elisabeth enjoyed her leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. Her favorite pursuits were Painting; wrote poetry, sang and played a number of instruments including piano and harmonica. She was content to enjoy her favorite pastimes alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

Elisabeth found pleasure in sports. In high school, Elisabeth played soccer and gymnastics. Recreational sports included walking, league bowling with her husband and even won trophies. Elisabeth was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed following her favorite events whenever she had the chance to do so. Tops on her list were Olympics.

Elisabeth enjoyed traveling and time away on vacations. It was a chance for her to renew and relax, to visit new places and experience new things. Favorite vacations included Mexico, Acapulco, Disney Land, Germany, Las Vegas, Jamaica and Florida.

Elisabeth was a lover of animals and cherished her pets. One of her favorite animals was Dogs. Her pets were: Grife , Teddy, Spotty, and lastly Coco.

When Elisabeth’s retirement finally arrived in 1992 unfortunately after her husband died. In retirement, she found new pleasure in that she did taxes for friends, taught reading to disabled persons through Catholic Social Services, and babysat her grandchildren and volunteered for her granddaughter Kyra’s choir. Even in retirement, Elisabeth continued to stay in touch with her old friends while making plenty of new acquaintances. Elisabeth was active in her new community and felt fulfilled with the opportunities retirement offered her.

Elisabeth passed away on November 20, 2013 at Mazankowski AB Heart Institute Edmonton AB. of Congestive Heart Failure. She was predeceased by her husband Helmuth, son Karl Sr. son in law Daniel and grandson Karl Jr and also her mother Elisabeth. She is survived by her daughters Karin and Barbara ( Gary ) , daughter-in-law Moira, grandchildren, Karen ( Gary) , Elisabeth ( Brian ) , Alana ( Kevin) , Kaitlin, Kandace, and Kyra-Ann; great grandchildren Kaylee, Kendra and Harrison. Services were held at St Theresa's Catholic Church. Elisabeth will be laid to rest with her husband Helmuth Kriese , son Karl and with her mother Elisabeth Wilken at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Edmonton AB.

Simply stated, Elisabeth was a good and kind person, an individual who will for all time be remembered by her family and friends as being a caring and giving person, someone who was a vital part of their lives. Elisabeth leaves behind her a legacy of life-long friendships and many cherished memories. Everyone whose life she touched will always remember Elisabeth Kriese.

EULOGY

Good Morning, I am Elisabeth Shantz, eldest granddaughter of Elisabeth.

I was very honored to have been asked to prepare and deliver a eulogy for my Oma; but equally daunted by the task. How exactly does one condense 86 years of an exceptional life well lived into a few minutes of time, and still have it be meaningful? How can you capture and express the spirit of someone so extraordinary, with mere words? It was only after I had completed writing this that I discovered that there is, in fact, an APP for that!

Elisabeth Frieda Katharina Wilken was born August 4, 1927 in Hannover, Germany. Life was not easy in depression era – Germany; but Elisabeth had many fond memories of her formative years spent with her mother and cousins, Edith and Waldtrude. Growing up during a depression instilled a sense of conservation, hard work and determination in Elisabeth that she held her entire life. Elisabeth also learned during this bleak time that there was always fun and mischief to be had if you knew where to look and had a willing partner in crime. For Elisabeth, this seemed to be whenever she and Edith were together. From falling into rivers trying to bob for apples to getting locked, one in a cellar and the other in the barn, for singing teasing songs about their Tante Anna. Elisabeth and Edith seemed to find joy in life together. I had the privilege of witnessing this when I travelled with Oma to Germany in 2006. I was a little shocked to see Oma and Edith bickering over the appropriateness of Oma’s wishing to indulge in gelato twice in one day. It ended with both of them muttering at each other under their breaths, harrumphing, and turning their backs to each other. I can’t clearly remember which one stuck their tongue out at the other first, but it was soon thereafter that they were giggling with each other and enjoying gelato. A-gain.

Elisabeth was 12 when Germany entered World War Two; during which time she lived through hardships that are unimaginable to most of us who have been so blessed to have not lived through such a terrible, violent, dark part of history. I remember as a little girl, Oma telling us stories of the war – of getting bombed out numerous times – of walking through the burning streets of Hannover in one shoe as the other had been lost in a raid, as well as having no other place to go and sleeping nights on the steps of a hospital so she could be close to her mother who was recovering from surgery. Always, though, she ended her stories with the same lament-that there were no winners in conflicts such as that….no right side, no wrong side, only the human side – and that she prayed we would never have to experience what she had lived through.

The most obvious highlight of this trying time was Elisabeth corresponding with, and eventually marrying the love of her life, a handsome young air force soldier, Helmuth Kriese. After a few years of writing to this young service man (I suppose this would be the equivalent of our internet dating!) – they met in 1944 when Helmuth was on leave, and were married the following year in 1945. In 1946 my mother, Karin, was born and in 1949 Elisabeth persuaded Helmuth that the best thing for their young family would be to immigrate to Canada. Convinced that she would have no issues on the Trans-Atlantic passage; Elisabeth had boasted that the sea was in her blood as she was the daughter of a sailor. It was only after she was on dry land again and had stopped “feeding the fishies” as she liked to call it, that Elisabeth was finally able to laugh at the irony of how seasick she had been the entire trip.

The first few years in Canada were not easy at all for Elisabeth – but her tenacity, determination and belief that no work was too hard were crucial in providing stability for her young family which was expanded further with the birth of Karl and the arrival from Germany of her mother, Elisabeth Wilken, in 1950. After a few years in Leask, SK and Hay Lakes, AB; Elisabeth moved with her young family in 1952 to Edmonton, AB where Barbara was born in 1961. Elisabeth never lamented her own loss of the carefree youth that was enjoyed by her children. Instead she looked on all the trials and hardships as the opportunity she and Helmuth had to make a better life for her family, which they did. After years of hard work, Elisabeth and Helmuth had opened a number of successful barbershop/beauty salon businesses together in which she was bookkeeper. I have to admit that as I wrote this eulogy in the warmth of my home after putting my son safely to sleep – I was overcome with a great sense of gratitude for all the sacrifices that Oma and Opa made so that we could have this wonderful life here in Canada.

Now for those of you who are keeping track of the years mentioned in Elisabeth’s history, and are getting a bit concerned that I have already been speaking for a while, and that last date mentioned was 1961….I am sure you are thinking that it would have been nice to have packed a lunch for this (after all…communion wafers fill the soul, but not the stomach)! I ask your patience and indulge me a few more minutes.

As interesting as Elisabeth’s history was…it doesn’t entirely speak to who she was. Granted, it allows one to appreciate the events that shaped her into an incredible wife, mother and grandmother. But it doesn’t capture what made her the irreplaceable force of nature that was the glue that held a family together for over 68 years.

Elisabeth was an outstanding mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was generous with her time and love, and was caring and compassionate to all she encountered. Elisabeth was an incredible friend to many, and in many cases there was no distinction between friend and family in her heart. Elisabeth often became a second mother to our friends and she always welcomed them as if part of the family. I remember my father remarking on more than one occasion how Oma was more of a mother to him than his own was. Elisabeth’s capacity to love was truly un-paralleled, and is a valued legacy that has been passed on to all her children and grandchildren.

Elisabeth also had a keen sense of humor and was more than capable of laughing at herself. I am sure that most of you here have seen the “Where’s Waldo” children’s books? ….you basically have to search a busy picture trying to find “Waldo”. Well, in our family we could have played “Where’s Oma’s Teeth”. Elisabeth had a partial bridge that had a propensity to be many other places…under the couch, on the counter, in the bedroom, basically anywhere other than where it was intended – in her mouth. She misplaced them once while eating at a Deli; and was too embarrassed to go back and ask if any of the employees had found her teeth – instead sending Barbara to go inquire about her misplaced molars. Needless to say, that time, the teeth were never found; but Elisabeth always had a good laugh about it.

Elisabeth treasured time spent with family and friends; her favorite time was always Christmas time, and not only because the world was her favorite color….white. Elisabeth loved the big meal, the laughter around the table, the off-key caroling and ending the evening with games. I learned quickly as a child that when playing games with Oma you had to watch her pretty carefully, as she was apt to “bend the rules”. I can clearly remember one year playing Pictionary, and Oma was desperately trying to get us to guess the identity of the creature she was drawing to no avail. As her time was running out, she “bent” the rules and drew two words coming from this pitiful creatures mouth; “W-A-U W-A-U”. Needless to say this helpful clue did nothing for revealing her artistry and as the time finished Oma put her pencil down and exclaimed “It’s a DOG!!! A DOG!! See… (indicating the mysterious hint she wrote) it goes VOW-VOW!!!). We all laughed at the fact that Oma’s dog was barking with a German accent.

Elisabeth also had an adventurous, youthful spirit. Elisabeth loved travelling with family and was always willing to try something new; be it successfully learning to surf in Hawaii at age 48, trying Sushi at 75 (although that one did take a lot of convincing) and even cell phones and Facebook at 80. She was a true testament to the adage that you are only ever as old as you feel, and you should never stop learning.

Elisabeth was also ALWAYS punctual. It was definitely not advisable to break curfew with her; in fact you had to learn that she had her own standard for time. Early was on time, and on time was late. I was in San Francisco with Oma and had gone for a walk down to the pier. Now I was well aware of “Oma time” so I was back at the hotel a full 15 minutes prior to our arranged meeting time. I went up to the room, and lo and behold, no Oma. What followed was not unlike a scene from an old Laurel and Hardy comedy. As one of us went up the elevator, the other was going down. Finally, after missing Oma twice in the elevator I went up to the front desk clerk to ask them if THEY had seen my Oma. The man laughed at me, and said “Sure…she’s been pacing the lobby and street looking for you for the last 20 minutes”. When Oma and I finally crossed paths she laughed as she bawled me out, because even after the confusion, and all her worrying and pacing I was still 5 minutes early.

Most importantly Elisabeth held strong beliefs in God and the Catholic Faith and that love and loyalty to family came before all else. There was nothing that any of us could ever say or do that would ever have stopped her from fiercely loving her family. Elisabeth and Helmuth had once said that they didn’t need to win the million dollars (what they called the 649) as they were already so rich from the blessings of family and friends in their life. Now this did not stop them from playing their numbers weekly… it just meant they didn’t need to win it to be rich! Elisabeth wished that her legacy to us all would be that we always love and respect each other and that we would always be there for one another. Having acknowledged that, I would like to leave you all, Elisabeth’s family and friends, with a poem she wrote…her heart’s own words to you:

God bless my children and keep them safe,

let them grow up strong and straight,

Give them wisdom, heart as well, so they may

help their fellow men.

Don’t let money rule your life, let your heart

be your guide, the world needs people just

like you, show it to her what you can do.

God bless my children and give them strength

To face up to life’s demands, open their eyes

And let them see, open their ears and let them hear.

God bless my children.

Tribute to Lisa

Who lived in Germany through war-torn years

Married, sailed to Canada with fears and hopes of safety with their peers?

LISA.

Who needed money, so worked on farms?

The chores were tough, but out of harm.

She learned to milk, to stook, to keep warm,

LISA.

Who had a quick mind, and was willing

To work at a Bank, T’was most fulfilling.

Her mother helped her raise the children.

LISA.

Whose husband opened a Barbershop?

She added a salon and beauty stop.

She washed and curled unsightly mops!

LISA.

He opened more shops as business grew,

She worked each shop to train the crew.

Grew so tired such work she couldn’t do.

LISA.

Whose family traveled and holidayed,

To Germany, Mexico near oceans played,

Where Natives with instruments would serenade?

LISA.

When ill health struck her husband dear

Whose activity shifted to low gear?

His Heart attacks were her worst fear.

LISA.

Whose sad time came when Mother died?

Her three children cried and cried.

“Must carry on” she sadly sighed.

LISA.

Whose children grew and then left home?

When Helmut died she was left alone

“At least a beautiful home I own”

Said LISA.

Who lost her first darling grandson?

With breaking hearts she soldiered on,

Kept up her home, though all alone

LISA.

Who moved to Estates eight years ago?

Many friendly neighbors got to know.

Off to breakfast and lunches go…

LISA.

Who gave us all her heart-felt love

Until she’d shared complete there-of?

We miss you sorely… you’ve gone above

LISA.

By: Ardith Trudzik

Gone from my Sight

(by Henry Van Dyke)

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says “There, she’s gone!”

“Gone Where?”

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mist and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says; ‘There, she is gone!”

There are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: “Here she comes!”

And that is dying.

(poem is public domain as published prior to 1923)