Mrs. Wilma Bender

Obituary

Wilma Bender was born on March 24, 1928, in Stryj, Poland. She fled from home with her family in 1941 during the Second World War and ultimately arrived in Germany, her ancestral home, in 1945. She lived in the village of Linderte, near Hanover, until 1953 when she emigrated to Canada with her husband Jakob and baby daughter Ulrike. In Toronto, for almost sixty years, she lived just west of Spadina Avenue along a ten-block stretch in three different houses.

During her lifetime, Wilma was employed as a hospital cafeteria worker, she was a landlord — along with her husband — and a homemaker. She loved to cook and bake, and was famous for her Strudel, which she made until her last year. She also loved choral music and, beginning in 1977, sang for many years in an Austrian choir. In 1983-84, she completed an advanced English course, which encouraged her to continue her reading and writing. Until she died, she was a curious and dedicated self-learner.

Wilma regularly welcomed into her home, for short stays, students and young travellers from Germany. She herself was an avid traveller. Her fondest travel memories included a Mediterranean cruise in 2013 with her grandson, Kurt, and a road trip through Germany in 2015 with her three children.

Wilma died of complications from pneumonia on February 13, in the early morning, after a brief stay in Toronto Western Hospital, where she received excellent care. She was ninety-four years old. She is mourned by her daughter Ulrike (Larry), son Edwin (Karlyn), daughter Karen, grandsons Kurt, Kevin and Eric, great-grandson, Kye, and Kye’s mother, Megan.

In lieu of flowers, family and friends can make a donation to St. George’s Lutheran Church by e-transferring to treasurer [email protected] or by sending a cheque made payable to St. George’s Lutheran Church, 410 College Street, Toronto, Ontario  M5T 1S8. Please include your name and address, so that a receipt for tax purposes can be mailed at year’s end.

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