Waltraut "Trudy" (Moritz) Jeschke

It is with great sadness that the family of Waltraut (Trudy) Jeschke announce the passing of their beloved mother, Omi (Grandmother) and Omile (Great-grandmother) on September 11, 2017. She was taken to her eternal home in glory suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 84 years.

She was predeceased by her husband Helmut Jeschke, her birth mother Anna Böttcher as a young child, her father Arthur Moritz, her step-mother Maria (nee Liebelt), two infant siblings during the war, and an older sister Elvira.

Born on June 24, 1933, in Tarutino, Bessarabia (formerly Romania), Waltraut was the third daughter of the family. She spent her early childhood there, before the family was forced to flee in the war. They were all reunited post-war in Frauenaurach Germany, where she spent some years as a textile factory worker before immigrating to Canada with her sister Lilly in 1953 at the tender age of 19.

Although Trudy had only had a very few years’ formal schooling, she excelled in reading and writing, and quickly became proficient in English. Like all her family, Trudy was exceptionally musical and sang in numerous choirs and ensembles for many years. She also had a real gift for poetry, and right to the last, she could still flawlessly recite from memory poems and songs known since childhood.

After spending a year working as a household servant in Winnipeg, Trudy relocated to Calgary, where she married Helmut Jeschke. Their life together was made complete with the addition of two children.

Trudy was always active in her church and, in addition to being a homemaker, she worked tirelessly outside the home for much of her life.  She was even pressed to service as dad’s laborer helping at jobsites on occasion!

As well as being an exceptional cook and baker, she was a skilled seamstress, and very talented knitter. She sewed for clients and operated a small fabric and wool store for some years. In her later years she still knitted voraciously – donating most of her handiwork to charity. Her lap cozys are indispensable in each of our cars, and warm our hearts as well as our legs! She served as a private housekeeper for a number of families in Calgary over the years, contributing much to their child care and home life. She is still a beloved friend and mentor in each family.

After being widowed, in ’94, Trudy forged a new life for herself, and had a special home custom built at Gull Lake. She moved out there full-time in ’98 where she continued to pursue a wide range of interests, including bowling, fitness, and travel.  She was an avid armchair sports fan, following a multitude of sports. During the Olympics we sometimes didn’t hear from her for days! She was able to take all of her children and grandchildren (and families) to Hawaii, creating treasured memories with each of them. She enjoyed 20 happy years of active and independent living at her “Oasis”.

She was active in Lacombe’s Bowling Leagues for many years and was known for her great sportsmanship, her good-humoured ways at the alley, and the wonderful baked treats she loved to share with her fellow-bowlers. Always ready to serve and help others, Trudy was a valued member of the community on Brownlow’s Landing, and a much-loved adherent of Parkside Alliance Church. In spite of three separate battles with Cancer since 2012, Trudy was a fiercely self-sufficient and strong woman, who loved her family, her friends, and her Lord: and lived a rich and fulfilling life at her home til the very end.

She leaves behind to mourn her passing a daughter Karin (Patrick) Baumgardner, and son Colin (Darla Daugela) Jeschke; her grandchildren Carmyn (Christopher) Prefontaine, Daniel (Tracey Rossignol) Necker, Lisa (Lucian) Stanescu; as well as two step-grandchildren Stephen (Natalie) Kohlman, and Kalista Kohlman, and six great-grandchildren: Benjamin, Luke, Tristan, Ezra, Joachim and Adeline. Also five siblings and their families, a sister-in-law and her family, and a multitude of dear friends. She will be sorely missed by us all.

A Memorial Service will be held to celebrate Trudy’s life on Friday October 6th, at 11 a.m. at Parkside Alliance Church in Lacombe, AB.   If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made to Parkside Church. 

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