Gertraud Anna Marie Stankevicius

(nee Riedl)

Peacefully Gertraud Anna Maria Stankevicius entered into God’s eternal love on Sunday, June 23, 2013.

Gertraud was predeceased by her husband Vacys in 1982. Our beloved and cherished Mamma, Mutti, Oma and Traudi was nearing her 89th year of a full life well lived.

Gretraud Riedl was born in Graslitz, Czechoslovakia on August 15, 1924 into a wealthy and prominent family in the Sudentanland – a region where ethnic Germans lived and were invited to settle and develop the area over five hundred years ago.

The Second World War was devastating to the Riedl family. The forced expulsion of the ethnic German population by the Communist takeover of the Sudentanland in 1945 forced millions of innocent families to lose their homes, farms, business and personal wealth, which has never been compensated. Traudi and her parents were part of this calamity, forced to leave on a midnight freight train with only a few personal belongings limited to “fifty kilos”. When the train stopped in Kempten Allgäu in Bavaria, Germany the next chapter of her life was to unfold. It was in Kempten that Traudi met her future husband Vacys at a Saturday night dance.

As the courtship and romance grew, Vacys made plans to emigrate to Canada and begin a new life with Traudi in Manitoba. Settling in Winnipeg, Traudi arrived the summer of the 1950 flood. As husband and wife Vacys and Traudi made their home and raised their family in the West Broadway area on Spence Street, where three sons, Peter, Algis and Roland were raised to be caring and accomplished; each graduating from the University of Manitoba with degrees in engineering, agriculture and commerce respectively. Vacys and Traudi’s hard work and commitment to their family and the St. Casimir Lithuanian Roman Catholic Church created a full and busy life. The summer cottage building project at Grand Marais in 1972 was a family project that is full of vibrant memories.

Traudi was educated in Grasiltz as a Kindergarten teacher and “Kinder Käche und Kirche” were Traudi’s priorities in life. She doted over her sons ensuring that they were always taken care of in appearance. Mamma was a talented cook and she took great pride in preparing her German receipies for her family. The Frankfurter Kranz Torte she baked was always a family favorite. As her sons grew older, Mutti took on an enjoyable part time job at the bake shop in The Bay’s Paddlewheel Restaurant.

Early morning starts ensured she was home to prepare supper for the family each day. Her life was busy but she enjoyed the company of her many friends in Winnipeg, at the cottage and from Church. She and Vacys spent many good times at the German Club where social evenings were “lustig” and “gemütlich”. Playing the piano and listening to German Folk music and videos brought her great pleasure and comfort.

She ensured that her sons all learned to play the piano and instilled a love of music.

Her cat Miezie brought Mamma a great deal of joy as did the family dog Spot and the new cat Mozart. In retirement, numerous trips to Florida and holidays spent in Germany with her cousins provided wonderful times to relax. As Oma, Traudi was an elegant, generous, and loving grandmother to her five grandchildren; Justin, Jonathan, Calvin, Clair and Angela. Daughters in law Heather and Barbara will always be grateful and appreciative of Oma’s love and gentle care that was enduring throughout.

Traudi’s three sons were her pride and joy. In her late sixties, Traudi moved to live with her son Algis where she enjoyed a very comfortable home and beautiful lifestyle celebrating many happy occasions with her beloved family and dear friends. At all times, Mutti was cared for in a manner and quality that reflected love and commitment which Traudi had so thoroughly taught to her sons.

A special thank you to Dale, Bridgette, Sarah Anne, Martha and Florence for their kind help.

A funeral mass will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, July 9, 2013 at St. Alphonsus Roman Catholic Church 341 Munroe Avenue.

Ich gehe zu denen,

die mich lieben,

und warte auf die,

die mich lieben.