MARTHA BORCHERT

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MARTHA BORCHERT

Our mother, grandmother (Omi), and great-grandmother, Martha Borchert, passed away on May 9, 2024, at the age of 95.

Martha was born January 28, 1929, in rural Lithuania, raised on a farm with no electricity, no running water, a childhood filled with swimming in the lake, singing with her family, and going to school to the highest level possible (grade 4)! At 12, her family was forced to evacuate during the Soviet invasion of Lithuania. The next few years of her life involved a series of moves between Germany and Lithuania, her family caught in the turmoil of early 1940s Europe. Following the war, while living in Kellinghusen, Germany, Martha met Ossie for the first time. Much to his chagrin, she had a boyfriend at the time, but Martha and Ossie kept in touch. In 1950, Martha immigrated to Canada, working with her brother Ewald on a sugar beet farm, first for one year to earn their stay in Canada, then for another to earn the money to bring the rest of their family. And still, Martha and Ossie kept in touch. While she was living in Winnipeg, Ossie too immigrated to Canada, finding work on a farm in Kitchener. And still, Martha and Ossie kept in touch. But Martha was a popular young woman, and Ewald, sensing something special, wrote a letter to Ossie, warning that he'd better come to Winnipeg soon or he might miss his chance. Ossie, taking Ewald's words to heart, hopped on a train. Martha picked him up from the CP station on September 8, 1951. Three months later, on December 29, the two were married. They went on to build a house, to have four children, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren, and to a marriage that lasted for 71 years, until Ossie's death in 2023.

During their many years together, Martha and Ossie enjoyed travelling over much of North America with family in their camper trailer, spending summers at their cottage at Hillside beach, many parties with their many friends, fittingly called the "Group of 40", and singing Christmas carols with family on the advents. While her primary vocation was raising her family, Martha worked a variety of jobs ranging from seamstress to battery welder. She also enjoyed gardening, games of cards, and swimming. In her later years, Martha was very involved in her swim club, including serving as club president.

Martha was extremely dedicated to her family. She frequently showed her love through food, feeding the family through the generations. Favourite dishes included cottage cheese pancakes, sweet and sour spare ribs, rouladen, marble kuchen, zimtsterne, lazy man's halupkis, and kugelis.

Martha was predeceased by her husband Ossie and her son Peter. Left to remember, love, and miss her are her sister Irmi, children, Rosemarie Markwart, Karin Bridges (Trevor), and Rick Borchert, grandchildren, Laurena (Tyler), Tiffany (Mike), Kyle (Monica), Ryan (Arin), Leah, Rebecca (Evan), and Adam, and great-grandchildren, Oliver, Emily, Violet, and Alice.

She was greatly loved, and will be deeply missed.

Schlaf in Himmlisher Ruh, Omi. Wir alle lieben dich.

A memorial gathering will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 18, 2024, May 18, 2024