Ilse Martha Ulbrich

Ilse Martha Ulbrich (nee Langematz), better known to family and friends as “Omi”, left our world to join her previously departed soul mate and husband Richard, sister Annemarie Propper, and parents Margarete and Richard Langematz on Friday November 15, 2024. Ilse passed peacefully and comfortably at home while listening to her favourite Andre Rieu music, surrounded by loved ones who took turns holding her hand over her final week of life. She knew she was never alone. Ilse was just 2 weeks shy of celebrating her 99th birthday.

Ilse was born in Berlin, Germany on November 28, 1925. Her teenage years were impacted by the war and she was no stranger to spending nights in her apartment basement with the rest of the residents during an air raid, or making her way through darkened streets to stand in line bargaining for black market butter, flour, sugar, etc., or sewing up runs in her stockings. Her first job was working in an Optometrist’s office (during the war), and later she was the Executive Secretary for the President of a prestigious Berlin bank.

In the early 1950’s Ilse became a pen-pal to a young man (Richard) who was boarding at her sister (Annemarie’s) Boarding House in Toronto. Eventually Richard came to Berlin to meet her and in 1956 these pen-pals became husband and wife. Together, Ilse and Richard returned to Canada. They travelled by ship to Montreal, and then by train to Toronto. In 1958 they welcomed their only child, Veronica.

In 1960 Ilse and Richard moved from Toronto to Scarborough where they lived for 24 years. They moved to Aurora in 1984 to be closer to their daughter and her family. Ilse very happily took on the role of full-time “Omi” to look after her grandchildren while they were young.

Over the years, Ilse and Richard did a lot of travelling. They frequently returned to Europe to visit family and travel through various countries, they took many road-trips across Canada and throughout the US including a dream vacation to Hawaii. They had a great time and compiled an enormous number of wonderful pictures to prove it! Sadly Ilse lost her dear husband Richard to cancer in 1995.

Ilse had a sharp wit and sarcastic humour. She absolutely loved to entertain and was a delightful hostess – always the life of the party. She was elegant, stylish – and competitive. Ilse loved to play cards, and in later years became a huge fan of Rummikub. Visiting friends and family all learned to play and really enjoyed the game. When she won, Ilse loved to say that she was so happy not because she won, but because: “you lost!”.

In 2015 Ilse moved into the home she shared with her daughter and son-in-law (Des) on the shores of Lake Simcoe. A beautiful, peaceful environment where she enjoyed riding her bike through the Village, cruising on the lake with Des while he was fishing, or just relaxing on the porch soaking up the sun.

She was deeply loved and will be profoundly missed by daughter Veronica (Barnes), her much adored son-in-law Des (Barnes) who really was the son she never had, and her loving grandchildren and their spouses – Brent (Kelly Robinson), Derek (Anne Marley) and Jessica (Daniel Bazor). Ilse was also very fortunate in that she had the unique opportunity to share some quality time with her wonderful great-grandsons Desmond, Patrick, August and Warren Bazor. Their visits put life into the household and gave her a great deal of pleasure.

A life well lived!

The family would like to acknowledge all those amazing care-givers who made it possible for Ilse to comfortably and peacefully spend her last days at home, surrounded by her loved ones. This would not have been feasible without the assistance provided by the PSW’s from Happy at Home, the compassionate medical care administered by the Bayshore Nurses, and most significantly the co-ordination provided by Ontario Health at Home, who have been checking in and monitoring our needs for years. We extend our most sincere thanks and gratitude to these kind and caring people.

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of Thompson Funeral Home, 530 Industrial Pkwy S. Aurora, ON.

Public visitation will be held at this location of Thursday, November 21, 2024 from 10am followed by a traditional service at 10:30 AM, burial at the Aurora Cemetery, and a reception back at Thompson’s Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Ilse may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Canadian Cancer Society, or Princess Margaret Hospital.