16-Mar-1932 - 08-Jun-2023
It is with great sadness that we announce our amazing and strong Mother Erika Berta Anna Guenther (nee Bröcker), passed away peacefully at Southlake Regional Hospital on June 8, 2023 at 91 years of age.
Erika, beloved wife of the late Horst Guenther and devoted and loving mother to Alfred (predeceased) (Christine), Winfred (predeceased) (Kathy), Thomas, Herbert, Angelika, Marianne (Roma) and Margerete (Tom). She was a beloved Oma to her grandchildren Amanda (Derek), Meagan (Chris), Hillary, John-Luke, Ian, Christian, Erika (Geoff), Erin, Anthony and Marc-Andre. Great-Oma to Giovanni, Everly and Cameron.
Erika was born on March 16, 1932 in Heidekamp, Germany, to the late Hermann Johann Heinrich Gottfried Bröcker and the late Anna Maria Wilhelmine Bröcker (nee Gerhardt).
Erika is predeceased by her siblings Gunter, Werner, Herbert, Hermann, Osala, and Berta. She is survived by her sisters Elsa (Werner) and Ingrid (Walter).
Erika immigrated to Canada from Germany in February 1956 on the Arosa Line M.S. Arosa Sun Bremerhaven. Erika and our father Horst, who immigrated to Canada in 1952, had communicated by correspondence prior to her arriving in Canada. This is where their love story began, and shortly after, they started their family.
Erika worked as a nursing assistant at Our Lady of Mercy Hospital in Toronto for 33 years. She enjoyed cooking big lunches every Sunday and continued this tradition into her last week as a way to gather all her family together. Erika passed her days knitting blankets, sweaters and scarves for anyone who would take them. She enjoyed reading the gossip papers and believed every word.
Whenever Erika could, she enjoyed returning home to Germany to visit her brothers, sisters and many nieces and nephews.
We are all so grateful and appreciative for the ongoing medical care she received from Dr. Kuzmyk for many years, and the care she received during her last week from the nurses, PSW’s and medical staff at Southlake Regional Hospital.
A celebration of life honouring Erika will be held in the Trillium Room of Taylor Funeral Home on June 17 from 2-4 pm with words of remembrance at 3 pm.
Erika will be truly missed.