Katharina Warwick, at 93 years of age, passed away peacefully on February 10, 2016. She was predeceased by her husband John in 1996. Katharina lived in Victoria since 1953. She was a wonderful Aunt to many nieces and nephews in Canada and Austria. She is also remembered by close friends Brenda and Craig Hammond, who were embraced as family since becoming neighbours in 1976. Special thanks to Clive and Carmel Loader who were faithful friends. Thanks to the staff at Kiwanis Pavilion for their kindness and care during Katharina’s time at the care home.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 9:00 am on Thursday, March 10, 2016 at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 4053 Gordon Head Road. Donations to Heart & Stroke Fund appreciated. Cremation with Interment at Royal Oak Burial Park.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall’s Funeral Home
www.mccallbros.com
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Marha Unger
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Carmel and Clive Loader Clive and I have only known Katharina for less than 20 years but we have many great memories of good times together.
Katharine’s love of birds remained with her throughout her long illness. When she could no longer feed her hummingbirds in her garden, she found great pleasure in looking at pictures of birds on calendars and in bird books.
Our daughter, Colleen, admired Katharina for her courage in leaving home and in moving alone to a new country. It must not have been easy. I admire Katharina for her unshakeable spirit which sustained her when she found herself lost in an unknown world of strangers and medical people.
Aufwiedersehen
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Hammond Oma had been a “safe place” for me from the time I was just a wee baby bouncing on her hip. There was never a time when I didn’t know Oma, so whether she was a “blood relative” or not was irrelevant; she was always my Oma. Some memories that come to my mind when I think back to the early days on Triest Crescent:
Rolling on that velvet green lawn- a veritable luxury to nearly every sense. How Trevor and I marveled at its softness and beauty.
The sound and smell of the steam from her iron as she smoothed out her fabric. Little frayed scraps of material I got to pick up off the floor of her sewing room to play with. Learning how to do cross stitch. Oma, a master seamstress, would graciously iron on little patterns and teach me to “sew” on beautiful, perfectly hemmed squares of white fabric.
The RICH (and delicious) hot chocolate she made out of Sheriff’s chocolate sauce and whole milk.
Boiling eggs and transferring on patterns for Easter, and the elaborate Easter baskets full of chocolate she gave us every year. (I think this continued until I was eighteen or nineteen years old!)
The amazing dinners she made (Opa would always say, “We would have paid at least five dollars for that in a restaurant”. Five dollars went a little further back then….)
Beautifully made and cozy nightgowns she would make me every year for Christmas. In later years, her generosity extended so far as to make a little fleece blanket for the puppy I had adopted.
Oma was my hair model when I took the provincial hairdressing exam. (I passed.) Even when I moved away and began teaching full time, I always knew I had her love and support.
When Chris and I got married in December 2010, Oma’s health had already begun to decline. Her mind was failing her and a sort of sadness had settled over her. But she was there at our wedding, and I will always remember her sweet embrace as she posed for a photo with us. That sweetness always resided within her – even on days when it failed to rise to the surface. And that is the Oma we will always remember and whom we celebrate today.
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Hammond When I was five years old, getting invited to Oma and Opa’s house next door was tantamount to receiving an invitation to visit paradise. Both of them gardening aficionados, the grass was truly greener on the other side of the fence.
My sister and I spent countless hours lying on their perfect lawn, while Oma planted flowers and Opa tended the fruit trees.When the work was done, the children would sit outside in the Muskoka chairs, eating Fig Newtons and drinking apple juice. Opa would have a bottle of Lucky, and talk to us about inflation, politics and pro wrestling. Oma would always be there with a hug, calling us “Sweetheart” and giving us new shirts or pyjamas she had sewn for us.
As we grew up, Oma was always there for baptisms, graduations, weddings, and family Christmas celebrations. She was one of the kindest people I have ever known, or will ever know.
The Warwicks didn’t have to, but they chose to invest their lives and give their hearts to two young children who lived next door to them. My life is better because I knew them both.
Thank you, Oma.
With Love,
Trevor
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Steve & Tricia White Our sincere condolences to the family! We are so sorry for your loss. Losing someone in death is such a sad time. We lost mom recently. We want to share some scriptures that give us the assurance that we will see her again. “Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out.”John 5: 28, 29. Isaiah 11:6-9 tells about a future where children will play with wild animals… “and no harm will come to them… right here on earth.”
No more sickness or death. (Rev 21:3,4)
We hope we can be there for you! Call us anytime!
The White’s 812-350-9888
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Catherine Hawkins Condolences to those who loved Katharina. I knew her as a friend and a very talented seamstress. I spent many hours with her sewing, and learning the “tricks of the trade”. She was very generous in sharing her skills. Many of the linens at Holy Cross Catholic Church were the result of her talents. May she rest in peace.
Martha and Toni
February 23, 2016
Aunt Katharina was our favourite aunt.
In 1953 she decided to emigrate to Canada – filled with hope for a better future. A decision which was not an easy one, also for her relatives who left behind with sadness an sorrow. Due to her hard work and perservance, she managed to build a new life in her new home.
Aunt Katharina was a role model – a shining example – to us, nieces and nephews; somebody we would look up to; somebody who did never forget us. Regulary, we received parcels from her which contained self-made clothing and toys.
For a long time we all hoped she would return. The day she married John, we understood though that she will not come back, but will stay in Canada for good.
Nevertheless, we were very happy for her to have found a Partner to share life with.
The great distance between Canada and Austria made it difficult for regular visits, but when she came for a visit we were all delighted.
Exchanges of letters, and afterwards the telephone, were our means of communication.
We grieve for Aunt Katharina and think with garitude and respect of her.
In a funeral mass in Graz, all the members of her Austrian Family will pray for her.
Auf Wiedersehen,
Deine Nichten und Neffen mit Familien