Helene’s Obituary
With tremendous sadness we announce the passing of our loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother in the Red Lake Margaret Cochenour Memorial Hospital on Dec 24, 2021 at the age of 94. Predeceased by her husband of almost 52 years, Dieter Uchtenhagen.
Our families would like to thank all the nursing staff and the doctors of the Red Lake Margaret Cochenour Hospital for taking such good care of our mother. They ensured her care and comfort in her final months. It was certainly a comfort to all of us.
Many thanks to Mom’s friends, Doug, Leslie, Shelley and Marianne for countless hours of help, friendship, and comfort over many years.
Helene was born in Switzerland on February 21, 1927 to Alfred and Sophie Schneider. She was the only daughter in the midst of four brothers. The family lived on a farm with a variety of animals and crops.
In Switzerland, Helene worked for a few years as a nanny and house keeper in several areas of Switzerland and learned French and Italian in addition to her mother tongue of German.
Wanting a change, Helene went back to school to become a chef and after graduation met the love of her life, Dieter Uchtenhagen who was going to Agricultural College where she worked. The path of romance was not smooth but after many years apart Dieter returned to Switzerland from Canada and he and Helene were married. Helene and Dieter made a good life for themselves and had three children. Liliane, Markus and Bernhard who they surrounded by much love. In addition to raising their children, Helene worked very hard supporting Dieter with their business, Blondie’s Heating, looking after all the bookwork.
Helene loved nothing more than being surrounded by family. She loved her gardens, both flowers and vegetables. She loved cooking and feeding her growing family. During the summers many hours were spent swimming, picnicking, picking blueberries, finding wild mushrooms and of course, nurturing her expansive gardens.
Helene and Dieter travelled frequently to Switzerland to visit their bothers, their wives and their children. Canadian travels were enjoyed first when Liliane, Markus and Bernhard were young, camping the whole route twice to the west coast. After their sons and families move away from Red Lake, they often travelled to Thunder Bay to spend time with Markus’ family and occasionally to Red Deer to enjoy Bernhard’s growing family, and down to Washago to visit with Liliane and Larry. When Helene and Dieter were no longer comfortable with long distance travel on their own, Liliane and Larry enjoyed a great trip to the East Coast and then another, a couple of years later to Alberta. The ongoing back seat commentaries kept all in stitches whether it was what time are we stopping for lunch or what was the next stop on the agenda. On the trip to Alberta, Helene saw the mountains one last time. They reminded her of the Swiss Alps, her homeland.
When Dieter passed away, everyone encouraged Helene to travel more, which she did, but her favourite place was home, surrounded by her gardens, her family memories and her picture gallery.
She is survived by her daughter Liliane who married Larry Spence, son Markus and Catherine gave Helene and Dieter five grandchildren: Laura married Paul Trevisanuto and they gave Helene three lovely great grandchildren – Lukas, Walter, and Ruby. Steven married Justine and added three more great grandchildren – Nathanial, Edison and Claire. Michaela married Patrick and welcomed great granddaughter Adeline and they live on Prince Edward Island near Charlottetown. Meagan is very happy teaching primary school and living in Newfoundland with Nathan. Shaylyn is happily working as a nurse at the hospital in Charlottetown near her sister Michaela. Her son Bernhard married Naomi and welcomed three grandchildren, Kiel married Kate and live in Red Deer, Graeme married Erin and little Ulrich is growing fast. They also live in Red Deer. Kiandra and Tom have moved to Victoria.
Cremation has taken place and a private family interment will follow at a later date. If friends desire donations can be made to the Red Lake Margaret Cochenour Hospital Auxiliary through the Red Lake Chapel, Box 237, Red Lake, ON P0V 2M0.
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February 02 1927 December 24 2021
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Helene Uchtenhagen February 02 1927 December 24 2021..
Red Lake Funeral Chapel Limited
Décès pour la Ville:Red Lake, Province: Ontario