Isabel A. Cordua-von Specht

She was born on Sept. 5, 1928, in Resistencia, in the remote northern Argentinian Chaco province, to Richard and Antonie Pfohl as the second oldest of four siblings. Returning to Europe during World War II took a toll on the family and she returned alone from war-ravaged Germany in 1948 to make her way as a 19-year-old in Argentina. These were hard times, and she worked to support herself as a governess while studying to earn a teaching certificate as an English teacher. The 1950s, which also included time in Germany and England, continued to bring challenges, which she met with her signature strength, faith, and sense of duty.

She found great joy and fulfilled her dream of having a family when, returning to Hamburg, Germany, in early 1963, she reconnected with and married Joachim Cordua-von Specht, on August 23, 1963. Her eldest, Erik, was born 13 months later and twins, Franka and Isabel, followed in July 1966. The family immigrated to Canada in 1973 and lived in West Vancouver until the mid-1980s. Her husband, Joachim, passed away in 1980, leaving her to raise three teenagers on her own. As in the past, the strength of her Christian Science faith helped sustain her.

A teacher at heart, she stepped back into a classroom in 1986 to teach at the Surrey German School. Without Canadian teaching credentials, she was limited to primary grades and decided in 1994 to earn her degree at the University of British Columbia — which she successfully accomplished in April 2000 at age 71!

She moved to Victoria in 2004 to assist with the raising of her fourth grandchild, while commuting back to Vancouver every week to visit her other three grandchildren and volunteer at her church’s reading room. A life serving others, with love and immense integrity, motivated her every action.

Those who knew her felt embraced by her shining eyes, radiant smile, and loving heart, and were struck by her unassuming grace. A passionate gardener, she brought gifts of flowers to friends and neighbours, and also generously shared her Christmas baking. She delighted in language and wrote poetry and, as an engaged citizen, sent carefully conceived letters advocating for human and animal rights, the environment, and civic matters.

She will be dearly missed by her three children Erik (Winona), Franka, and Isabel; four grandchildren Amanda (Grayson), Karin, Thomas, and Aidan; older sister, Erica; youngest brother, Rudolf Hayo (Ellen); and the extended overseas family. She was predeceased by her husband, Joachim, and brother Dethard.

We welcome your memories at www.dignitymemorial.com.

In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting a charity close to her heart: Amnesty International, Salvation Army, Wilderness Committee.

Our mother’s YouTube recipe links: German Stollen - bit.ly/3xujYsM, English Stollen: bit.ly/3S6zPr3