December 27, 1944 - May 6, 2025
With profound sorrow, we announce the peaceful passing of Gitta Elke Friesacher (née Woitscheck), at the age of 80. She is lovingly remembered by her children, Melanie (Nick) Veriotes and Frank (Loretta) Friesacher. She is also survived by her sister Sabine (Michael) Engel in Germany, along with nephews and nieces Oliver, Katja, Tobias and Christina. She was pre-deceased by her parents Oskar and Hildegard and by her brother Klaus.
Born in the final days of WWII, she was an infant when her mother fled with her from what is now Poland, not knowing whether her father —serving in the German army—had survived. They later reunited and settled in Königstein im Taunus, near Frankfurt am Main, Germany. She trained as a bookkeeper and worked in downtown Frankfurt, when she met her future husband, Franz Friesacher—an Austrian—at a German Karnival (Fasching) party. She was brave: at 24, she left home and family behind to emigrate to Canada, arriving in Montreal on 24 June 1969 (she talked about arriving during Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day celebrations, and then seeing the Apollo 11 moon landing on a giant screen a month later). She and Franz soon settled in Calgary where they built a house and raised two children, then in 1976 moved to St. Albert. Mom spent the rest of her life there, gardening, building friendships, and creating a warm welcoming home for us. In 2009, she moved from our Lacombe Park family home to her Oakmont condo: when we came over, she was always on her beloved balcony waving.
Mom loved her Edmonton Oilers, her shopping, and her dogs (Tinka, Prince, Sammy)—and most of all, us, her kids—two by birth, two by marriage. She proudly kept her German heritage and passed it on to us through language, costume, and Schuhplattler folk dance. A gifted Bauernmalerei folk artist and exceptional cook, she filled our home with the flavours of Germany and Austria, favorites being Schnitzel, Rouladen, potato salad (yes, both Austrian and German kinds!), Semmelknödel, Apfelstrudel, and Christmas cookies. Our parents would regularly host parties, and often had musicians from overseas stay with them and enjoy mom's warm hospitality.
Gitta had a gift for connecting with children: after we started school, she found her calling in childcare, spending over 35 years caring for little ones in daycares, where she was deeply loved. Even in retirement, former daycare kids, now grown, would spot her, calling out, “Gitta, Gitta!” We hope many of you will read these words and remember her fondly.
Even though her extended family was far away, mom visited Germany often and hosted her relatives in Canada. She was your typical German mom: she held strong opinions and had absolutely no hesitation in sharing them, yet always expressed in a tactful and often humorous way. She would talk to anyone anywhere, which at times embarrassed us, but eventually we grew to love it. Even to strangers, she brimmed with pride over her four children.
Her final months were filled with laughter, a few tears, compassionate care, and always love. One of the greatest gifts was her sister's visit for mom's 80th birthday, giving us all the chance to be together, share memories, and say goodbye. We, her children, loved her deeply, and we tried to fulfill her every wish, except for being unable to keep her with us longer.
Our heartfelt thanks go to the hospice staff at Gene Zwozdesky Norwood for their kindness and care in mom’s final days. Mom asked that there be no formal service, that family and close friends instead privately gather to remember her. In lieu of flowers we welcome donations to Norwood, or to support pancreatic cancer research.
And now, mom, we must learn to live without you here, but never without you in our hearts. In the spirit of your favourite children’s author, Robert Munsch, now it is our turn to say:
We’ll love you forever,
We’ll like you for always,
As long as we’re living,
Our mother you’ll be.
