Obituary

Inge Margrethe Kristensen-Sheepers – May 10, 1930 – March 21, 2019

Inge was born in Denmark, but was a citizen of the world.  In her youth she spoke 9 languages and spent extended periods of time in Norway, Switzerland, Spain, Sicily, Paris, Pakistan and New York City.  Many of these travels were in the company of her oldest friend, filmmaker Joanne Burke.  Later she lived in Mexico, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.  In the late 1950s Inge drove from Denmark to Pakistan, through Italy, Yugoslavia, Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran, with her lifelong friend, Ben Qasim.  In 1962 she married her first husband in NYC, and they were together for about 10 years.  They moved to Toronto where they had 2 daughters, Lisa and Michel.  In 1989 she met and married the love of her life, Kenneth (Fred) Scheepers, and lived in Africa with him for 27 years.  In 2015 they returned to Canada where, sadly, Fred passed away a few months later.  In Toronto, tragically, her youngest daughter Michel had succumbed to cancer in 2013.  Inge was cared for by Joe, her beloved son-in-law of 37 years, and Lisa, who was with her at her passing.  Inge is also mourned by her Canadian grandchildren, Clyde and Olivia Pauker.  She will be greatly missed by her sister in Denmark, Ellen Ipsen; and by her step-daughter Penni, Greg, and her Australian grandchildren, Liam and Jason Coetzer.

In accordance with Inge’s wishes, a memorial in celebration of her life will be held at the Cardinal Funeral Home at 366 Bathurst Street on Thursday April 11th.  Drop in any time between 2:00 and 4:00.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to: International Red Cross’ Mozambique Tropical Cyclone Idai Relief Fund – https://donate.redcross.ca/page/40262/donate/1?_ga=2.77363669.1752165023.1553126189-891218777.1551228039, or the Alzheimer Society of Canada.

     

Visitation

Date
April 11, 2019
Location
Cardinal Funeral Home Bathurst
Time
02:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Memo

A Memorial Drop-In to Celebrate Inge's Life

Service

Burial / Entombment / Cremation

*

April 10, 2019
Ann Gibson
Dear Family, The Gibson Family on the West Coast will be with you tomorrow in spirit. How we all loved Inge. She understood what it meant to live, laugh and love. All you were lucky enough to have shared a small part of her life were truly gifted. A donation will be made to Covenant House in Vancouver in her memory as she understood young people so well. Please extend our thoughts and prayers to Ellen whom we had the pleasure of staying with in Denmark many years ago. All our love, Ann, Rob, Robin, Maggie and Graham....
March 30, 2019
Dr. Heather Raff
Inge was the sweetest person in the world ever. She was kind, generous, 'international' and welcoming to people from all over the world. A loyal friend. A heart full of love. Lisa and Joe and family have all her kindness, and I am thankful that they cared lovingly for both Michel and their dear mother Inge, to the end. Blessings on you all from the Raffs, Heather Michael Paul and families
March 27, 2019
Robin Krause
I first met Inge in Toronto in the summer of 1986. I had moved there a few years earlier and had just finished a three-year college program. One of my college mates, Andy, ended up renting a room from her, and ergo, I met Inge. A few years later I had the fortune to move just around the corner from her Manning home. Being the wonderfully friendly and curious person that she was, Inge opened up her house. I remember fondly her Sunday lunch gatherings with anywhere from 4 or 5 people and up; sometimes her kitchen/dining area was packed. Soup and laughter. I remember sun-tanning (with my friend Andy, not Inge) on the steep roof of Inge’s Manning house, climbing out the skylight. I remember designing a small house project for Inge and helping her through the permit process with the city. I remember Inge’s morning moans coming from the shower after we had all gone out and imbibed a bit much the night before. I remember her travel tales. I remember when Inge met Fred, and how happy she felt. Inge’s house was like a second home at times, and I began feeling a great connection with her. In my heart, Inge became a second mum for me. I moved away in the early ‘90’s but we kept in touch. I always enjoyed hearing from Inge. I lost my first mum 6 years ago. A very sad day to lose the second. Miss you tons Inge. My deepest condolences to Lisa, Joe, family and friends. I will be there in spirit on April 11. With much love, Robin Krause, aka ‘Nature Boy’ (what Inge called me)