Gertrude Antonia Racette

Gertrude passed away peacefully at the St Paul’s Hospital Palliative Care Unit surrounded by family. Her long and painful battle with cancer is over and her suffering is at an end. Born in Nuremberg, Germany, Gertrude came to Canada in 1969. Shortly after her arrival she met Leonard Racette and they were married one year later. She was a Horticulturalist by profession and over the next 10 years worked with the U of S Buildings and Grounds, Cory Park Greenhouse, and Millers Flowers. She also had a love for all animals in particular dogs. In the early 1980’s she decided to become more involved in the canine world and began obedience training, grooming, and boarding dogs out of her home. She had a remarkable talent in dealing with dogs. Although she was small in stature, no dog was too large for her to handle. She was well read in care and handling of all dog breeds and it was common place for people to ask her advice in dealing with their dogs. Gertrude always kept dogs as family pets; as many as five, but never less than two. Throughout her life she never lost her love of gardening. Her living room was always adorned with plants and her front yard with a beautiful bed of perennial flowers thoroughly admired by the neighborhood. She loved the mountains and each summer the family would spend time enjoying the beauty of the Canadian Rockies anywhere from Jasper National Park to Waterton National Park. She enjoyed the simple things like walking the dogs with her friends. She was a devoted fan of Figure Skating and attended all galas that came to Saskatchewan. Gertrude was pre-deceased by her parents Johannes and Elizabeth Kapala. She is survived by her husband of 41 years, Leonard, daughter Carmen (Donald) Agar, Grandson Chas Agar, sister Erika (Gert) Adler of Grafenberg Germany, nieces Barbara, Christina, and Karin, nephew Benhud. The family wishes to thank the Royal University Hospital Cancer Centre as well as the Doctors and Nurses in the palliative care unit at St. Paul’s Hospital. A celebration of her life will be held at Acadia-McKague’s Funeral Centre, 915 Acadia Dr. on Tuesday, February 7th at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Saskatoon Cancer Centre, 20 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 4H4. Arrangements are entrusted to Acadia-McKague’s Funeral Centre (306-955-1600).