Renate Gisela Romanchuk

Suddenly, but peacefully, passed away on March 29th, 2023, at the age of 88. Predeceased by her husband John, Renate is survived by her beloved daughter Susan (Mike Dowhan), grandchildren Christopher, Gregory (Elsbeth) and Katherine (Gordon Foster), and great-grandchildren Greyson and Penelope.

Renate was born on August 30, 1934, in Berlin Germany, to parents Helmut and Emma Frank (nee Schnürpel). After enduring the horrors of World War II and the many tumultuous years that followed, she decided to immigrate to Canada. Based on the romantic notion that Canada was a wild west filled with cowboys, she made the journey with her dear friend Dagmar. After a year of domestic duty with her sponsored family and other odd jobs, she ended up finding work at the Chateau Laurier. There she met the love of her life, a handsome Ukrainian immigrant with captivating blue eyes named, John. The chambermaid and waiter eventually married and shared a life filled with hard work, but also good times. Given that John was a natural host and Renate an enthusiastic cook and baker, guests were a regular occurrence. They also spent many an evening out, socializing and polka dancing at German and Ukrainian events. They both enjoyed careers that allowed them to work in the public. John continued working at "the Chateau" as Maître D' serving heads of state and any one whose presence warranted a banquet in Ottawa's finest ballroom. Renate loved her work being a sales clerk. She spent many years serving customers at Murphy Gamble's, Zellers, and Ogilvy's. She would often come home to regale us with amusing anecdotes of her interactions with various customers. One memorable story, was how she would help one of her regular customers to pick out lingerie when she worked in the women's undergarment department at Murphy-Gamble's on Sparks Street. That customer was Gerda Munsinger, Canada's notorious cold war spy! Needless to say, between John's and Renate's jobs, work talk at the dinner table was never dull. Sadly, the marriage was cut short by John's untimely death in 1989.

Newly widowed, Renate kept busy taking care of her mother and enjoying her grandchildren. Now known as "Nana", she attended many a piano recital, school pageant, little league game and any other activity the grandchildren were involved in. She adored all children and revelled in spending time with them. She continued hosting friends and family at every opportunity. One day, an old friend invited her on a holiday away to Jamaica. This became one of her favourite places as she fell in love with the island and the people. She returned every winter to spend many months there, staying with one of the many new friends she made, and embracing the Jamaican way of life.

In her later years, she joined her daughter and son-in-law, to live in their home and pass the torch of cooking and baking to Susi. Slowed down by age and arthritis, she none the less always looked forward to having company over, especially for dinner and cake! She was also delighted when she found out that she would be a great-grandmother, as in the years prior she urged her grandchildren to hurry up as she wasn't getting any younger.

Renate embraced the Jamaican motto of "no worries". She lived life to the fullest and on her own terms. Our dear Nana will be sadly missed.

A visitation will take place on Saturday April 8th, 2023 from 2-4pm at McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home (1411 Hunt Club Rd, Ottawa). A private graveside service will take place at a later date. Donations in memory of Renate can be made to CHEO.