Christel Alice Felsheim

years. Born in Anklam Germany, on December 24, 1928, Christel arrived in Canada following the dreadful years of the Second World War in order to start a new life, filled with hope for a brighter future. She had lost her mother at a very young age during the war, survived two bouts of tuberculosis and escaped East Berlin in her mid twenties. She came to Toronto alone, by crossing the ocean ready to start a new life. Christel found a job as a nanny and went to night school to learn English. She met her husband, Hans, through letter writing. He was living in Fort Erie and had immigrated to Canada a few years prior, looking for a German wife. After several trips back and forth, he was smitten and they had fallen in love. They began their family in Fort Erie where Hans was already working on building a house. She was predeceased by her husband of 51 years, Hans Felsheim.

Christel was predeceased by her siblings Gerhard and Waltraud who lived in Germany with their families. Christel is survived by her son and five daughters, Michael and Heather Felsheim, Christine Felsheim and Beverly Chapple, Barbara and Brad Wakutz, Hannelore Felsheim Lafitte, Andrea Felsheim and Rebecca Farnsworth. Her four grandchildren brought her great joy: Amanda and Brett Felsheim, and Cassell and Sasha Farnsworth.

Christel and Hans had dreamed of having a large family. They eventually moved from Fort Erie to St. Catharines and then to Vineland. They loved the country life and the freedom of the outdoors so purchasing a hobby farm brought them great joy. They were both hard workers and took on one project after another, remodeling and expanding the house, planting a large garden and tending a variety of fruit trees and a small vineyard. Christel, being a mother of six children, was also very ambitious. She decided, she needed another challenge and took on selling Avon in the evenings. Not an easy job, in the country without a car, but she made it work and walked many kilometers selling her products and getting to know her neighbours. She made connections in the community and was helpful to several of her neighbours. She had a heart of gold and was always aware that there were people who had so much less than her and thus she felt compelled to help others.

Family picnics at Lake Kelso, Lake Huron and Manitoulin Island on summer weekends brought much joy and lead to a love for the north. Christel and Hans in later years spent a great deal of time, when they were empty nesters, camping and enjoying different areas of northern Ontario. These trips were a chance to relax and get away from work on the farm and Hans' work in construction during the week. It was also an opportunity to see new things and swim in the lakes which the whole family all loved. Eventually the destinations for family excursions included trips to Georgia, where Hans' sister and husband lived, and later to other destinations in Florida. Christel loved these trips and particularly enjoyed swimming in the ocean. The young woman who had immigrated to Canada had never dreamed this would be in her future!

Christel will be sadly missed by her family, and the many friends she made during her lifetime. The family wishes to thank those who provided support, especially during her final days. The family also thanks the staff at the Heidehof Retirement Home for their compassion, hard work and loving care. Christel was in a place where she had spent many years volunteering and providing support for others.