Obituary of Henrietta Reimer

Henrietta (Schalla) Reimer, aged 95 years, of Steinbach, MB., passed away peacefully on Friday, August 20, 2021, at Bethesda Place, Steinbach, MB.

Henrietta was born on December 18, 1925, to Herman and Caroline Schalla of Steinbach.

Mom was one of the oldest in a very large family. As well as working at home caring for the younger ones, she helped her dad make firewood and worked with him digging graves. Winter graves proved to be more physically taxing, having to first thaw the ground with embers covered in straw, then digging 2 inches at a time. Mom did housekeeping when her dad didn’t need her help or when finances were excessively low. Needless to say, education was not a priority. She was baptized and confirmed at the Lutheran Church in Friedensfeld in her early teens and attended regardless of the long, long walk from home.

Mom and dad married in 1953 and after a short stint in Carman, where we were born, they relocated to Ste Anne for dad to manage a grain elevator. Mom became his right-hand man. During the busy months and after we were sent off to school, mom would haul farm supplies from Winnipeg or shovel coal from the train cars into customers’ truck boxes, be home in time to make supper and to tuck us in, then walk to the elevator to help with the bookkeeping. Her garden was large and her freezers always filled by winter. Customers were often welcomed at lunch, even if it meant there wasn’t enough for her.

Mom suffered for many years with asthma and an allergy to grain dust, especially while living near the elevator. Their relocation to Steinbach offered immediate relief. We loved the new energy that appeared with the birth of their three grandsons. Dad lost his vision over time and mom selflessly became his caregiver. Once his failing body required more care than she could physically endure, dad became a resident of St. Adolphe nursing home and at the age of 81 mom drove her 4x4 truck daily to visit him. She was a true testament to ‘till death do us part’.

Her move to Fernwood was welcomed and she made many friends there. Her grandsons provided a new generation of littles which now became her joy. But as her dementia progressed and restrictions forced her to be alone, her happiness slowly waned into extreme loneliness. Her recent move to Greendale followed by Bethesda Place provided her with loving care but was unable to fill that void in her heart that only family can.

Our mom served; it was where she found her greatest joy! Her legacy lives on in our desire to do the same. Mom has found peace in being reunited with Bill and Randy.

She is survived by her son Don and Becky (Dustin), daughter Bev and John Schroeder (Evan and Dana, Liam, Tayla, Jacob, Melody; Dylan and Stephanie, Hudson, Alyssa, Cody), daughter-in-law MaryAnne, sisters Martha Plett, Thelma Funk, Margaret (Bob) Rentz, Helen Pletz and brother Ronald Schalla.

She is predeceased in death by her husband William (Bill) Reimer, her son Randall (Randy) Reimer, her parents, four sisters and four brothers.

The family wishes to express their gratitude to the amazing caregivers at Greendale Estates and Bethesda Place for being mom’s ‘family’ thru restrictions.

Cremation has taken place.

The interment will take place at St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery, Hwy 12, R.M. of Hanover, MB.