Obituary of ELFRIEDE BISCHOFF

ELFRIEDE BISCHOFF (ELFI KUERTEN) On March 21, 2017, after a hard fought battle with cancer, our mother passed into the arms of those gone before her – her two wonderful husbands (as she affectionately called them), Josef Kuerten and Wilfred Bischoff, her parents, and other family members in Canada and Germany who predeceased her. Our mother will be mourned and missed by us (her sons), Uwe and Frank (Candace), and by her step children Bev (Rick), Corinne (Todd) and Bonnie (Gord) as well as her step grandchildren (Phillip, Christine, Andrew, Jaime, Dustin and Carmen) and their families. She will be missed by her sister, Hanni Suhrmann (Heintz) and numerous nieces and nephews as well as by other friends, including her dearest lifelong friend, Doris Burndorfer. A proud and stubborn woman, Mom was never shy to share her opinions and deliver them with raw honesty whether or not solicited. Mom loved to tell us stories of her life in wartime Germany, and it was apparent to us that she must have lived her youth with gusto, perhaps because she valued her freedom having escaped with her mother and sister through war torn East Germany. Emigrating to Canada with Joe and her two young children, with virtually nothing in their pockets and speaking no English, meant a tough start to a new beginning in Canada. But they persevered and thrived, with Mom working to support her family alongside her husband, eventually embarking on a successful home heating business. Joe was the hands and she was the office brains behind their endeavour. Together, they made a life in Winnipeg, raising their sons with the ethics and morality she instilled in them. Mom’s world was rocked when she had to witness our father, Joe, suffer and eventually succumb to the same disease that took her. She became a young widow at the age of 52 and saw our family through the hard reality of his death with her inner strength and resolve. Mom was adamant after dad died – she would never remarry. But, these were the proverbial famous last words as she did remarry to her second wonderful husband, Wilfred, in 1991 and they remained together until his death in 2010. Mom – or Mutti as we called you - we know how hard you fought and we are glad you are at peace and no longer suffering. We love you, and we can hear you saying back to us what you always said with a chuckle in your voice – “No, I love you morestest!”. Always in our hearts. Forever in our thoughts. Special thanks to the wonderful staff at Palliative Unit 3E at Riverview Health Centre. You made our mother’s last days comfortable and saw her journey into the afterlife with compassion and dignity. In accordance with her wishes, no service will be held. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation to the Riverview Health Centre Foundation or a charity of your choice. We know our family and friends mourn with us and we appreciate all the condolences and good thoughts you have sent our way.