Hertha was born in Forestburg, Alberta to German-speaking, Russian immigrant parents. From an early age, Hertha’s responsibilities at home included cooking and cleaning for the family. The family later moved to Edmonton, and Hertha started working full-time at Woodwards at the age of 15. Five years later, Hertha went to secretarial college and worked initially for a stockbroker, and then later at Imperial Oil. Hertha met the love of her life, Al Giroux, during this time and they were married in August 1959. Hertha became a full-time mother and homemaker with the birth of her two daughters. Although busy raising her family, Hertha also made time to volunteer and teach fitness classes. The family moved to Victoria in 1981, and Hertha trained as an esthetician and then opened a business in Vancouver for a year. At the age of 55, Hertha returned to the classroom to train as a Medical Office Assistant, a role she absolutely loved. Hertha also started taking art classes in her mid-forties, and she completed 179 paintings over a 25-year period. Most notably, Hertha had a passion for cooking, and she took enormous pride in serving delicious and sometimes exotic meals to her family and friends. Additionally, Hertha enjoyed playing the organ, something she learned to do by ear, never having had any formal training. Hertha attended and volunteered with Cadboro Bay United Church for many years, and she also enjoyed weekly sessions of aquafit classes for 35 years with a close-knit group of friends. Hertha is remembered for her kindness, warmth and generosity of spirit, her love of family and her boundless patience and energy. Hertha is survived by Al, her husband of 67 years, and her daughters Simone and Clarice (Doug). She also leaves behind six grandchildren; Braden, Justin, Shardae, Amar, Andrew and Scott, as well as her sister Hilda. A Memorial Service will be held at the Sequoia Centre at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive, Victoria BC, on Saturday, October 3rd at 2pm. If you wish to send a tribute, please donate to a charity of your choosing in Hertha’s honour, in lieu of flowers.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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