Obituary of Rosemarie Helga Clouthier

April 5, 1930 - Waltershausen, Germany

September 16, 2022 - Calgary, Alberta

Rosemarie was born in Waltershausen, a small town in Eastern Germany on April 5, 1930. Her parents Ellie and Paul Weber worked hard to provide for herself, brother and sister; it was the onset of the depression, and the future was bleak with WWII on the horizon. Rose excelled in school, sports and handiwork. As an adolescent she worked in the family business, a Mercedes parts and general store. 

She is predeceased by her brother, Heinze Weber and sister, Hannah Ratensperger. Rose married Rolf Griessman of Waltershausen and they had one daughter, Elke. A few years later she met and re-married, Richard John Clouthier who was on peacekeeping duty with the Canadian Armed Forces. He extolled the virtues and beauty of his native land and won Rose over. While still in Germany they had one child, Margaret and six months later the family was sailing on a ship to Canada across the Atlantic in November 1955. They were stationed to Camp Petawawa, Ontario. Relatives, the Clouthier and Whiteside families resided in Petawawa village. Richard Jr. was born twelve months later on a winter’s day to the happiness of his sisters, parents, grandparents, great grandparents and numerous aunts and uncles.

Rosemarie will be remembered for her many achievements, simple elegance, steadfastness, and courage in the face of adversity. Her true stoic nature and underlying sense of humour helped her navigate through the hard times and find joy in the good times. She was a model parent and was loved by her family. Her many friends and neighbours kept in touch with her along the way. Mom was a truthful person and expected the same in return. 

Inspirational quotes displayed in her home were; “True friends leave pawprints on your heart”, “Great Spirit, grant that I may not criticize my neighbor until I have walked a mile in his moccasins”. A prayer “Liebe Gott, Gib Unser Heute Taglich Brot” - translated Dear God, Give us today our daily bread - carved on a wooden plate, was a cherished gift decades old. A goodbye saying “Machts gut” was replied with “Machts besser” - do well, do better.

Rose loved German operettas in her youth, classical and contemporary music, later she listened to popular, country and some gospel music. She discovered CKUA and enjoyed listening to Babas morning program and “The Long Road Home”, an eclectic mix of music, poetry and all around uplifting artistic esthetic. She loved walks in nature and remained surrounded by the tall pine trees at her residence, birds, wildlife and flowers to her end days. She contributed to many charities, and there are enough gifts and cards as thank you's to last a very long time. Many of her recipes came from a complete book for homemakers “Das Grosse Koch Buch”. Rose packed it with her from one residence to another as well as a complete set of lead crystal and down duvets, given to her by her parents. We were inspired by her skills in the art of cuisine, baking, interior design, indoor and outdoor gardening, landscaping, in particular her many rock gardens.

Some of Rose’s favorite memories were from her childhood. Looking out her window and seeing the castle on the hill, walking up there and over to Crawinkel where her grandmother, aunts and cousins lived.  She like to chum around with her friend Sonya Bach, dress up on Sundays and listen to music while strolling through the park. One of her best memories was helping out at a bakery where she learned some skills. Also, she and her family empathized with the underprivileged and forgotten, and on occasion offering refuge and reaching out to some of the Jewish population who were fleeing persecution.

When Rosemarie emigrated to Petawawa, Ontario with her family, she had the true pioneer spirit. There was no running water in the two room cabin they called home, only a well to draw water and an outhouse. In those early years, she raised three small children with a woodstove for cooking and warmth against the cold winters. Housing was limited in the PMQs and not readily available to younger families. She recounted how she made a Christmas dinner for Great Grandmother and Grandfather Clouthier on the wood stove. Even though it was a culture shock for her and her eldest daughter she helped her children have a sound and happy childhood, well into adulthood. We never felt for lack and have happy memories that we will treasure as portrayed by the numerous family photographs collected over the years.

It was her courage and willingness to find work while still a young woman that led Rose to leave her mother and father in Waltershausen and travel by train to Wuppertal outside the Eastern Bloc to West Germany. Her parents gave her a valuable collection of handcrafted dolls to finance her journey. Rose met up with Rolf and were married. She worked as a maid and hostess in a hotel, then they travelled to Iserlohn where they were reunited with her sister Hannah and husband Waldemar and their children. Elke, her cousin Illona and Margaret were born in the same hospital that later burned down.

Rose worked again as a maid in order to carve out a living for herself and her daughter forgoing the comforts of her parent’s home.  Travelling to East Germany could be difficult yet Rose and Elke journeyed back to Waltershausen in 1953-4 to see her mother and father. Paul was an elderly man then and was able to visit Hemer in 1964 when they were stationed back to Germany. It was Roses dedication to her family that persevered always. Years later, upon settling in Calgary with her family, she kept the home fires burning, even though she liked to travel, Hawaii and Europe.

Her many friends throughout her life were often her social sphere. She enjoyed good conversation. She will be missed because she had a sunshine disposition that left few people untouched. She had a gentle spirit and sweet nature, was polite. She was given the respect due to her by her Health care providers and in turn was grateful. In her last years while she battled congestive heart failure, her children were dedicated to providing the comfort she so richly deserved. Her passing has left an emptiness difficult to bear and it is through gratitude for having had her in our lives that we find solace. We will remember her when we hear a sparrow sing, the soughing of the wind through the pines, or see a beautiful garden, so many touchstones to remember her by. The song from Willie and Josey Nelson “Have You Ever Heard the Rain” was one of the last songs heard together with her.  Her memory will live on, she will not be forgotten.

Funeral Services will be held at McInnis & Holloway (Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB)on Thursday, September 29, 2022, at 11:30 a.m. Reception to follow in the Hospitality Centre at the Funeral Home. Graveside Service to follow at Eden Brook Memorial Gardens. Condolences, memories, and photos can also be shared and viewed here.

In living memory of Rosemarie Clouthier, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.

Click Here to View Rosemarie Clouthier's Memorial Card