VERNA OTILLIE NEUFELD

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VERNA OTILLIE NEUFELD (nee LUDTKE) June 6, 1923 - April 14, 2017 It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our mother and grandmother, Verna, at the age of 93 years, on Friday, April 14, 2017. She left us at the Seven Oaks Hospital following a brief illness. Mom will be missed by her children Debby, Rod, and Greg (Laverne) and her grandchildren Kasen and Jess, who always could put a smile on her face. Mom is survived by her sister Olive; sisters-in-law Shirley (Driedger) and Sue (Neufeld), and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Harold; parents William and Martha; sisters Meta, Elsie, and Pauline; and brothers Ernest, Walter, Adolf, Earl, Victor, Cliff, Robert, and Don. Mom was born June 6, 1923 and grew up on the homestead farm in Saskatchewan, the 10th of 13 siblings. She talked of a hard life, the "Dirty Thirties" and the family working to put food on the table. She met our dad in May of 1947 in Arcola, SK when he was working as a station agent for the CP Railway. He drove up on his Harley motorcycle and she was in her kerchief working in the garden. The rest is history. They eventually settled in Winnipeg where they raised their three children. They later retired out to their cottage in Lac du Bonnet where they would spend the next number of years with their Alaskan Malamutes Nicki and Shadow. For better access to health services they moved in the late 1990s to the town of Beausejour, MB and after Dad passed away, Mom moved to Winnipeg to live with Deb. Mom enjoyed her remaining years in her granny suite with her cats Roscoe and Sweet Pea. Mom was a cook. Her favourite place was in the kitchen and she was most happy cooking for her family and company. If Mom was making a meal we knew we could look forward to something special. When Mom and Dad came to visit, you could always be guaranteed homemade fare: chicken noodle soup, molasses cookies, bread, or tea biscuits and always something special, a tart or apricot slice or some decadent cake. On visits to see their grandchildren they could fill the freezer. When Mom wasn't cooking, she was in the garden. Mom and Dad's house was surrounded by flowers. The vegetable garden served up hills of potatoes, fresh peas, beans and carrots, onions, cabbage, and lettuce. Beefsteak tomatoes were best eaten right off the vine with saltshaker in hand and most of the cucumbers would become pickles for the fall, but could just as easily be mixed with cream for a hot summer day salad. There was always rhubarb for sour cream pie and dill for borscht. The vegetables were guarded by peonies, the south face was snapdragons, portulaca and marigolds, and in the front were begonias (more colours were always better), bleeding heart, lilies, coleus, and geraniums. That list only expanded when they were settled out at the cottage. We would like to offer thanks to the home care staff who helped Mom her last years in her home. Also thanks to the nurses and staff of Seven Oaks Hospital 3rd Floor, Units 2, 5, and 6 for their care during Mom's last days and special thanks to her nurse who sat with her and read her prayers during her last moments. Lastly, special thanks to Rev. Dr. Beinert, Mom's pastor, for attending to Mom spiritually through these last years and in hospital. A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 30, 2017 at Green Acres Funeral Home, Highway 1 East at Navin Road. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a charity of your choice. GREEN ACRES Funeral Home & Cemetery Hwy. #1 East at Navin Road, Winnipeg, MB (204) 222-3241 Condolences may be sent to www.greenacresfuneralhome.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 22, 2017