Obituary for Heide Van Riesen (Tgahrt)
HEIDE-MARIE VAN RIESEN
It is with sadness, after a courageous battle, surrounded by her loving family. Heide-Marie Van Riesen of Tillsonburg peacefully passed away at VON-Sakura House on Friday, June 24, 2022 at the age of 81 years.
Heide was a devoted mother and grandmother. She is survived by Eberhard, her husband of 56 years (16 days away from their 57th wedding anniversary), sons Rodger (Karen), Roderick (Stacey Pembleton), grandchildren James, Isaac and Sophia and siblings Peter (Linda), Sabine, and Regina. Pre-deceased by her daughter, Romy, and Sister Wilma.
Heide was born in Elbing, West Prussia (Germany) in 1941 to Heinrich and Ida Tgahrt (Broosche). With the advancement of the Soviet Army in 1944, the family fled to West Germany. In 1953 Heide and her family immigrated to Virgil (Niagara), Canada. After completing high school Heide started a job in finance in Toronto. In 1961 she returned to Germany and because she was bilingual, she acquired a secretarial position on the U.S. Army base in Ramstad. Two years later she returned to Canada and acquired a secretarial job in the engineering department at TRW St. Catharines. In 1965 she was married to Eberhard Van Riesen. In 1966 when Rodger was born, she left her job and became a stay-at-home mom. In 1977 she became church secretary at Knox Presbyterian Church St. Catharines. In 1980 the family moved to Tillsonburg because of Eberhard’s transfer to the new TRW plant. That year she worked again for TRW as receptionist and secretary until new permanent staff were hired. Later, she worked as Administrative Assistant to the Head of Finance for GM Diesel, London for 7 years.
She was involved in the Tillsonburg Fair Board, Canadian Cancer Society, Tillsonburg Curling Club, Helping Hand Food Bank, Tillsonburg Travel Club. She was coordinator of volunteers at the Tillsonburg Hospital before it became a paid position. Treasurer of Erie View United Mennonite Church and board member of Mennonite Central Committee of Ontario. She also volunteered at the Ten Thousand Villages retail store in London.
Heide and Eberhard loved to travel and in Canada have been from coast to coast to coast, St. John’s to Haida Gwaii numerous times and up to Tuktoyaktuk four years ago. She liked to travel roads least traveled to get to know the people. The only places she had not been to were Australia and Antarctica.
She was involved in her church in St. Catharines sponsoring Cambodian boat people in the late 1970’s. As well, she was actively involved with Erie View United Mennonite Church in sponsoring a Syrian Refugee family- a relationship she treasured to her last day. Heide went out of her comfort zone to take part in the lives, pains, and joys of others.
Heide enjoyed having family together and close by, especially her grandchildren, who in her eyes could never do any wrong and was immensely proud of.
A Memorial visitation will be held at Ostrander’s Funeral Home, 43 Bidwell Street, Tillsonburg, ON N4G 3T6 (519) 842-5221 on Thursday June 30, 2022 from 12:00pm -1:00pm with service at 1:00pm.
It was mom’s wish for donations to be made to either Mennonite Central Committee or to VON Sakura House Hospice (VON Oxford). Donations can be made online directly with Charity if applicable or by contacting the Funeral Home.
It is with sadness, after a courageous battle, surrounded by her loving family. Heide-Marie Van Riesen of Tillsonburg peacefully passed away at VON-Sakura House on Friday, June 24, 2022 at the age of 81 years.
Heide was a devoted mother and grandmother. She is survived by Eberhard, her husband of 56 years (16 days away from their 57th wedding anniversary), sons Rodger (Karen), Roderick (Stacey Pembleton), grandchildren James, Isaac and Sophia and siblings Peter (Linda), Sabine, and Regina. Pre-deceased by her daughter, Romy, and Sister Wilma.
Heide was born in Elbing, West Prussia (Germany) in 1941 to Heinrich and Ida Tgahrt (Broosche). With the advancement of the Soviet Army in 1944, the family fled to West Germany. In 1953 Heide and her family immigrated to Virgil (Niagara), Canada. After completing high school Heide started a job in finance in Toronto. In 1961 she returned to Germany and because she was bilingual, she acquired a secretarial position on the U.S. Army base in Ramstad. Two years later she returned to Canada and acquired a secretarial job in the engineering department at TRW St. Catharines. In 1965 she was married to Eberhard Van Riesen. In 1966 when Rodger was born, she left her job and became a stay-at-home mom. In 1977 she became church secretary at Knox Presbyterian Church St. Catharines. In 1980 the family moved to Tillsonburg because of Eberhard’s transfer to the new TRW plant. That year she worked again for TRW as receptionist and secretary until new permanent staff were hired. Later, she worked as Administrative Assistant to the Head of Finance for GM Diesel, London for 7 years.
She was involved in the Tillsonburg Fair Board, Canadian Cancer Society, Tillsonburg Curling Club, Helping Hand Food Bank, Tillsonburg Travel Club. She was coordinator of volunteers at the Tillsonburg Hospital before it became a paid position. Treasurer of Erie View United Mennonite Church and board member of Mennonite Central Committee of Ontario. She also volunteered at the Ten Thousand Villages retail store in London.
Heide and Eberhard loved to travel and in Canada have been from coast to coast to coast, St. John’s to Haida Gwaii numerous times and up to Tuktoyaktuk four years ago. She liked to travel roads least traveled to get to know the people. The only places she had not been to were Australia and Antarctica.
She was involved in her church in St. Catharines sponsoring Cambodian boat people in the late 1970’s. As well, she was actively involved with Erie View United Mennonite Church in sponsoring a Syrian Refugee family- a relationship she treasured to her last day. Heide went out of her comfort zone to take part in the lives, pains, and joys of others.
Heide enjoyed having family together and close by, especially her grandchildren, who in her eyes could never do any wrong and was immensely proud of.
A Memorial visitation will be held at Ostrander’s Funeral Home, 43 Bidwell Street, Tillsonburg, ON N4G 3T6 (519) 842-5221 on Thursday June 30, 2022 from 12:00pm -1:00pm with service at 1:00pm.
It was mom’s wish for donations to be made to either Mennonite Central Committee or to VON Sakura House Hospice (VON Oxford). Donations can be made online directly with Charity if applicable or by contacting the Funeral Home.