HERTA SPRENGER

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HERTA SPRENGER December 12, 1931 – November 9, 2018 Herta passed away late in the evening of Friday, November 9, 2018. She left peacefully in her sleep. She is survived by her husband Emil; sons, Reinhard (Mary-Jane) and Harry; granddaughter Crystal Verhaeghe (Corey); grandsons, Nathan Seager and Aaron Seager (Meredith); sisters, Lydia Kempe, Dina Schoen, Ella Carl (Ernst); brother Oscar Pekau; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, Max and Ella Pekau; and her brother Bruno Pekau. Herta was born in Lithuania and immigrated to Canada after the Second World War. She met her future husband on the boat crossing the Atlantic. Initially she cooked in a logging camp near Edmonton but after they got married they worked on a farm near Portage la Prairie where they forged wonderful friendships with the Hutterite people on the neighbouring colony. Next was a farm on Wilkes Ave. back when that was real farm country. Following were several houses in Winnipeg with a long time in St. James where the boys grew up and then Elmwood. She spent the last two years in supportive housing and a personal care home. Mom was amongst the world’s best cooks and feeding her family and friends was her greatest pleasure as well as theirs. In the 1960s and 1970s their circle of friends took turns hosting rowdy parties and throw in a few weddings and other events and she had a lot of fun. Starting in the 1970s, cottage life every weekend included the family and friends, especially her new granddaughter. She was an excellent seamstress and, early on, she made a lot of her and the family’s clothes. A few bolts of corduroy and the boys had shirts of every colour plus light blue leather jackets. When they took up square dancing they wore the best country outfits custom made at home. With her husband they formed their own business with her sewing custom draperies – for many years she made the fanciest drapes for the best new houses all over Winnipeg. All business came by word of mouth from her happy customers. The family extends their warmest thanks to the staff of Golden Door Geriatric Center for the wonderful care they provided in her last months when she slowly succumbed to cancer. They made sure she looked her best and Dr. Erin Dean of CancerCare and Dr. Shiela Domke of Golden Door, ensured she remained pain free and comfortable. Arrangements will be on Saturday, November 17, 2018 at Thomson “In the Park” Funeral Home, 1291 McGillivray Boulevard. The arrangements will start with a viewing at 10:00 a.m. immediately followed by a graveside ceremony in the adjoining cemetery. Reception will follow at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Reinhard and Mary-Jane. The family respectfully decline flowers.
THOMSON “IN THE PARK” 204-925-1120 Condolences may be sent to www.thomsoninthepark.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 14, 2018, Nov 15, 2018, Nov 16, 2018