Hedwig Schultz

A memorial service for Hedwig will be held Monday, March 18, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Ocean View Funeral Home, 4000 Imperial Street, Burnaby, BC V5J1A4, followed by a reception from 12:15 PM to 2:15 PM.

Hedwig Gottschling was born in Zdunska Wola, Poland on July 31, 1929, the second of 3 children born to Otto and Elise Gottschling. Her father was a veterinarian and also worked in the police as a records clerk due to his beautiful handwriting skills. Elise was a homemaker and managed the workers at their farm.

In 1943, to avoid the anticipated invasion of the Russian Army, Hedwig and her younger sister, Lily, along with their mother were sent to Nordhausen, Germany. Her brother Georg had been drafted to the Wehrmacht in 1943. Her father, Otto, stayed in Poland working and taking care of the farm. At Christmas time, Otto came to visit his family and Hedwig insisted to go back with him to Poland, to see her homeland and visit friends. Shortly after returning to Poland, circumstances dictated that they leave immediately and return to Nordhausen. From there they moved to Westerhof, where Georg finally found his family. Georg had brought along his best friend, Benno, which is how Hedwig met her future husband. They married in 1949. In 1950, their first son Norbert was born.

They emigrated to Canada in 1951 and immediately became members of Bethany Baptist Church. She was briefly working as a housecleaner and later as a sales clerk in a bakery. In 1958, her second son, Rolf, was born.

Hedwig loved entertaining and was well known for her talents in cooking, baking and keeping an immaculate home and garden which she took great pride in. She also spent her time visiting people in hospitals and carehomes.

In 1975 she was blessed with her granddaughter Carla (Don), daughter of Norbert (Eleanor), and in 2004 her family grew with Rolf's (Maggie) two stepdaughters Cecylia (Patrick) and Emilia (Jason) and later on four great grandchildren, Ezra, Sierra, Caden and Sebastian.

Hedwig enjoyed many years of good health and travelling with family and friends. After a life of ninety-four years, on March 10, 2024 she was taken home to be with her saviour.