Eva Hildegard Grodde

Eva passed away peacefully on January 1st, 2021 just shy of her 89th birthday. Beloved sister to Ruth (Costa Rica), Marlene (Pembrooke, ON), Dorothea (Kingston, ON), Ellen (Langley, BC) and Fred (Perth, ON). Like a loving mother to Kim, Helen, Jerry, Angelina, Rick, Julia and many many more! Eva is also loved and remembered by her many nieces, nephews and many friends of so many nationalities.

She was born to Charlotte & Alfred on February 12, 1932 named Hannah Renate Eva Hildegard, even as choir practice proceeded at the manse (clergy home), in Insterburg, Germany. By September of that same year her parents decided to head back to Canada with her and her two sisters. (Memoirs of mother, Charlotte)

Eva graduated from Queen’s University in 1953 with a Bachelor of Arts and the following year completed her Elementary Education Certificate in Physical Health. She taught in Toronto but her love for adventure and travel brought her to her beloved Lebanon where she stayed for 10 years. She began as an English teacher to a very wealthy family and later, because of her diplomatic abilities, she became an important member of the Diplomatic Staff of Immigration to the Canadian Embassy in Lebanon. Her tact and bravery served her well in dangerous times during the Lebanese Civil War. The Embassy was relocated to Cyprus and from there she was posted in Singapore where she helped interview refugees and made sure that those who were accepted found help when they arrived at their new destination. Her final posting was in Cairo, Egypt from 1986-1989.

Everywhere Eva went she made wonderful friends and was a mentor to many. Her home was always open to friends and family with loving hospitality. She had a gift to help and connect people and set them more comfortably on their path. She had a natural gift with animals, especially her favorite dog Buffy. Her laughter, sense of humour, generosity, encouragement, support and love for people and animals, and her love of nature will always be remembered by her family and friends.

May her memory be eternal.