Obituary for
Elsa Schwill (Rettenberger)
SCHWILL, ELSA (née RETTENBERGER)
(January 23, 1937 – December 8, 2018)
Elsa passed away peacefully in her sleep early in the morning on December 8, 2018 at the age of 81. A bladder infection led to the discovery of stage 4 cancer that was quickly metastasizing, leading to a very short stay at Southlake Hospital before she left us. Blessedly, she was with family her entire short journey through illness. Her daughter Patricia stayed always at her side, and the afternoon prior to her passing she was surrounded by all her immediate family.
Elsa immigrated to Canada from Weinheim, Germany in 1955 to follow the man she loved and whom she married in Canada and survived three years ago. Together they had four children, Bernhardt (whom they lost at the age of 3), Robin (Kathy), Christopher (Shannon) and Patricia, and three grandchildren, Kristina, Thomas and Rylee. Elsa started her life in Canada in Toronto, then moved to Keswick, Ontario in 1981 and then to Newmarket in 2006, finding new friends and new interests at every turn.
All of her family remember Elsa as the gentlest, kindest, most caring and warm-hearted soul they ever knew. Our Lord took her into his arms on the day of the Sabbath with the same kindness and love she has always shown others. He gently let her know her time was near, and so she was able to say her farewells to everyone closest before He granted her ultimate peace and rest.
Elsa’s time in Newmarket was happily spent travelling to be with family in Germany and Manitoba, engaging in numerous activities at the Christian Baptist Church of Newmarket, and contributing an extraordinary number of volunteer hours at Southlake Residential Care Village, where she attended to any and all of the residents’ needs she could, often just being there to hold someone’s hand so they would feel less alone.
Elsa is survived by her elder brother, Verner, who lives with his wife Mathilde in Weinheim, Germany.
We will miss you Mom/Oma but will always cherish deeply the wonderful memories that we have. May you rest at peace with the Lord now forever. We will always love you Mom!
Visitation will take place between 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 20, 2018 at Roadhouse & Rose Funeral Home, Playter Chapel, 157 Main Street South, Newmarket, Ontario, followed by a funeral service at 1:00 p.m. and reception at 1:30 p.m. at the same location.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Elsa’s memory to the Christian Baptist Church of Newmarket or Southlake Regional Health Centre Foundation (Cancer Program).
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Elsa
Schwill Rettenberger 1937 2018..
Source: roadhouse and rose funeral home
Death notice for the town of: Newmarket, Province: Ontario