Peacefully, after a courageous and lengthy health battle, our Mother, Grandmother and Friend, Nettie passed away on Friday, April 26, 2024 at the Victoria Hospital.
She is survived by son Allan and wife Elaine, daughter Angie and husband Hermano and grandson Tristan, as well as sisters-in-law Adeline, Elsie and Rose, several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was predeceased by her husband Philip (2012), grandson Christian, her parents Mary and Ben, and recently her sister Betty, her in-laws, Mary and Walter, as well as brothers-in-law Joe, Edward and Tom.
Nettie was born January 10, 1934 to Mary and Ben Kehler, and grew up with her sister, Betty on a farm in the Niverville area. Our Mom met Dad at Pete’s Inn in St. Norbert in 1953 and they got married June 19, 1954. They started their life journey together moving to a farm near LaSalle, Manitoba growing grain, raising turkeys, the odd pig, cows, then eventually chickens.
Mom was an incredibly giving, strong, and loving woman who always had time for helping her family, friends, and neighbours. She was a hard worker and always seemed to have boundless energy whether it was working with Dad in the fields while raising their children, growing a large garden (then canning its bounty), raising poultry, baking her famous tasty buns, helping make perogies at the Community Hall; she seemed to get it all done! Don’t know how she did it!
Mom and Dad lived on the farm many years until some beautiful property came up for sale on Bartmanovich Road in Howden, Manitoba. They loved that retirement area, but lost it in the 1997 flood. They then moved to Fort Richmond. After Dad’s passing in 2012, Mom continued living there until her own health issues became too great and she moved into Riverwood Square (Assisted Living). Eventually, with more complicated and progressing health issues, she entered Heritage Lodge PCH, then finally came to reside at Southeast PCH where she remained a resident of House 4 up until this last lengthy hospitalization at the Victoria Hospital.
Mom’s faith was important to her. She was a member of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church on Red River Drive until she moved to the city and then joined Mary, Mother of the Church parish which was almost across the street from her home. She also looked forward to monthly Mass at her PCH.
There are so very many people to thank and appreciate along Mom’s journey that it would be a novel! Please know that each and every one of you that cared for our Mom, dropped by to say “hi”, visit, or sit at her table, shared a kind word, listened to her stories about her life, got her involved in activities, prayed for her, laughed, and cried with her; you are all incredibly special people and meant the world to her and to us as a family. Life is never an easy journey, but if you meet caring people along the way, you are richly blessed.
Mom’s health journey was arduous, but she faced every issue with strength, grit and determination. Know Mom that you had a heart of gold, you fought the good fight, and it is now time for you to finally rest. May you rest in peace in the presence of God and His angels.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Mary, Mother of the Church, 85 Kirkbridge Drive with Father J.B. Nguyen officiating on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Interment to follow at St. Joseph’s R.C. Cemetery, 973 Red River Drive, Howden, MB.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Nettie’s memory may be made to The Salvation Army or The Red Cross.
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