EDITH ANNA FANSLAU

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EDITH ANNA FANSLAU

(nee SCHILLHAHN)

May 22, 1938 - December 10, 2023

It is with great sadness that her children formally announce the passing of Edith Anna Fanslau, age 85.

“Edi” was born in the small town of Fürstenau in Germany.

At age 21, she married Arthur Fanslau and together they embarked on a new life in Canada. With all their worldly goods, they stepped off the ship in Montreal and drove their VW Beetle to Winnipeg, which they called home for the rest of their lives.

With barely any English, mom landed her first job in Canada as a cleaning person for what was then known as the Manitoba Telecom Services. She was thrilled to be a stay-at-home mom when her first child, Patricia (Patti) was born. Once Patti was in school, mom began to teach accordion lessons from home. She continued to do so after the birth of her son, Ingo. She loved that it allowed her to meet new kids and families, but still be at home with her kids.

While raising her kids was her number one priority, she also enjoyed life at the family cottage she and dad built, took up golfing and became an avid swimmer and familiar face at Boni-Vital pool.

Mom had a special knack and ingenuity when it came to making Halloween costumes and no one could turn down any Torte she ever baked.

She also loved dogs and we always had a family dog. Later in life, mom worked at a veterinary clinic as a dog groomer, an environment she really enjoyed and one that provided entertaining anecdotes.

Several years after dad’s passing, she was fortunate to share a relationship with Dr. Helmut Rolfes. Together they travelled to Europe, Hawaii, and spent time visiting vineyards, flower gardens, and taking ocean-sprayed walks along the California coastline.

Mom was predeceased by her mother, father and husband. Left to mourn is her sister, Elke Koch (Schillhahn) and husband Johann, her daughter, Patti, son and daughter-in-law, Ingo and Karyn, her beloved grandchildren, Anja, Kira and Anders, her two nieces, Annette and Melanie, her nephew, Axel and their respective families, and the many friends she had the good fortune to make throughout her life.

As per mom’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A service will be held on July 17, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Peters Lutheran Church, 65 Walnut at Wolseley Avenue.

Peacefully, sleeping, resting at last

The world’s weary troubles and

trials are past,

In silence she suffered,

in patience she bore

Till God called her home to suffer no more.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 15, 2024, Jun 15, 2024