She was one of fourteen children.
Herta endured tough times with her family as her father and a few older brothers had to serve in WW11
as Germany invaded Poland. This was the beginning of severe hardship as Herta’s mother, Natalie, with
most of the children, spent many years in Siberia in a refugee camp. The family was scattered over
Germany and Russia and one brother was never to be seen again. Years after the war had ended,
Gottfried, Herta’s father, was reunited with his family through the efforts of family and the Red Cross.
Mama, as she is fondly remembered by her children, met her husband Peter while she was working in
Germany as a housekeeper and Peter was a farmhand across the way . They fell in love and were
married May 30, 1947. In 1949 their first child, Peter, was born. Two years later in May, 1951 aboard
the Beaverbrae Ship, the young family made the voyage to Pier 21, Halifax, Nova Scotia. From there
they boarded a train which took them across Canada to Matsqui, BC. They lived in a small house on
Gladwin Road where they added Louise, Susanne and Frank to their ever-growing family. In 1959 they
packed up and moved to the homestead on Nicomen Island and three more children joined the mix;
Hans, Evelyn and Julie.
Herta was so proud to have seventeen grandchildren, thirty-three great grandchildren and three great
great grandchildren. She was so happy to see them when they came to visit and always had some apple
chips or fruit leather to offer as a treat. She loved to celebrate birthdays, Easter, Thanksgiving,
Christmas; anything that brought the family together.
And now Herta, Mama, Oma has gone ahead to be reunited once again with family that has gone
before her. Although we have so many years of wonderful memories, it is still hard to say, Auf
Wiedersehen. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation in Herta's honor.
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