As both her parents worked, she became a very confident and independent child. In 1938 as people prepared for war, this area of Czechoslovakia was taken over by Germany. War broke out in 1939 and with it the constant threat of bombers throughout the area. Towards the end of the war in 1945, Edeltraud was taken with several other women to a labour camp. She was finally able to reunite with her parents in 1946 and together they were shipped to Germany as refugees. Although trained as a practical nurse, Edeltraud eventually got a job in a weaving mill that was owned by the Koch Family. Here she met her husband Benjamin Koch and they were married in 1954 at which time them immigrated to Canada, first living in Winnipeg where their first son Bringfried (Fred) was born. In 1955 they moved to Hamilton where their second son Jakob was born in 1961. Edeltraud and Benjamin along with the whole family were very active in the German Baptist Church (now Mission Baptist Church).
Edeltraud died peacefully on November 30, 2019 surround by her family. She is fondly remembered by Bringfried and Marion, with Marleen (Gabriel Constantin) and Michelle; Jakob and Lorie, with Timothy (Siobhan and Paul), Robert (Roxanne and Annabel) and Nicoline (Isaac Medler and Esther).
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