Obituary of Emma Gutsche

On October 18, 2006, at the age of 80, Emma left this world to be with her beloved husband Adolf, who had predeceased her only twelve days earlier. She is survived by her loving sons Siegfried, Helmut and Armin and daughters-in-law Shelagh and Lorna. While they are shocked at having to say goodbye to her so soon after the death of their father, they take comfort in the fact that she is now, not only with Adolf, but with the Lord and angels that she so often sang about. Additionally, Emma is survived by her adoring grandchildren: Emma, Billy, Dustin and Audrey, Rayne, Jeremy, Kyla and James, as well as a great-grandchild due at the end of November whom she had looked so forward to meeting. Emma will also be remembered by her many friends as well as the religious community at Thornhill Baptist Church, where she gave many devoted years to the choir. Born and raised in present-day Moldovia, Emma set out with her husband for Canada in 1952, fuelled by a sense of urgency to create a better life for her family. She worked hard as a homemaker and housekeeper and she instilled in her family a sense of duty to others, especially to those who were less fortunate. Her compassion for the underprivileged stemmed not only from her own experiences growing up in war-torn Europe but also from her deep religious faith. Her love of Jesus and strong belief that He would relieve suffering gave her comfort throughout her life and especially sustained her during her husband’s illness. Emma enjoyed her final years relaxing with her family: delighting in her garden, watching Western movies, baking cakes and cookies and above all, playing dominoes’a favourite game of hers which helped her teach the younger family members a lot about mathematics, competitiveness and co-operation. Despite having suffered great hardships in her life-including being given away as a small child, fleeing invading soldiers in Moldovia as a teenager, and struggling to provide the best for her kids and grandkids-our mother, grandmother and aunt never once complained or showed any bitterness towards anyone, even those who had wronged her. She was like a diamond, in that the continuous pressures and hardships of life served only to strengthen her spirit and better enabled her to shine a warm, loving and brilliant light on everyone in her midst. She was a person whose extraordinary resilience truly left a mark on those around her. While Emma’s heart gave out in the end, it had given so much to so many people over such a long period of time. Her family asks that in lieu of flowers donations be made directly to the Canadian Red Cross, Alberta/Northwest Territories, P.O. Box 4050 STN C, Calgary, AB, T2T 5W7; an organization that Emma both served in and was served by Relatives and friends are invited to Prayers and Tributes at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S Chapel of the Bells (2720 Centre Street North) on Saturday, October 21, 2006 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral Services will be held at Thornhill Baptist Church (128 Tache Avenue N.W.) on Monday, October 23, 2006 at 11:30 a.m. with Pastor Ken VanderMuelen Presider. Graveside Service to follow at Queen’s Park Cemetery. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In living memory of Emma Gutsche a tree will be planted at Fletcher Park Memorial Forest, by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES Chapel of the Bells, 2720 CENTRE STREET NORTH Telephone: (403) 276-2296.