Gudrun Elisabeth Kläre Wiedenfeld (née Schlicht)

Gudrun Elisabeth Kläre Wiedenfeld (née Schlicht)  

10 April 1926 - 23 January 2024

Born at home in Breslau on 10 April 1926 as the 3^rd child of Heinrich (artistic painter from Munich, Bavaria) and Irma (nurse from Gelsenkirchen, North-Rhine Westphalia (Palatinate)). Breslau was the provincial capital of the eastern German province of Silesia until 1946. 

Times were hard in the period after WWI, so in 1930, father Heinrich took the opportunity to work in New York City for a relative in wallpaper design. Mother Irma joined him in 1932, leaving sisters Sigrun and Gudrun in the care of an orphanage in Silesia. The parents returned to collect the girls in 1934.  They moved to Mittelwalde, Silesia, and in 1938, bought a home there as the economy had radically improved with stable government policies. The young family prospered with the building up of a weaving business and art work done.   In 1940, brother Alwin was added with joy to the family.

In 1945-46, in this part of the province, the German population was expelled from their homes in a period of ethnic cleansing by Polish military police.  Some walked and rode in wagon trains and some were transported to the west in rail cars.  There was great suffering and loss of life.  The homes were given to the Polish population coming from the east. Silesia became a new part of Poland at this time.  

As refugees, Heinrich, Irma, and the 3 children were able to settle in Ilbeshausen, province of Hessen in West Germany.  Using their inventiveness, frugality, work ethic and teamwork, they slowly restarted the weaving and art business adding beekeeping and gardening to enable a livelihood. 

Gudrun, having completed her basic education and having started her training as a weaver in Silesia, continued her studies, achieving her Master of Weaving Diploma in October 1951 in Darmstadt, Germany. 

Due to economic and social pressures, Gudrun decided to emigrate to Canada and arrived by ship in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in January 1955.  She decided to settle in Montreal, Quebec, as her destination, encouraged by a new friend Ilse with whom she had travelled from Germany. Gudrun was placed with a genuine and caring Scottish family (Doctor and Mrs. McMartin) as a mother’s helper by the Canadian government for 1 year.  Part of her salary was deducted to repay for the ship fare and early expenses.

That summer, she was introduced to Klaus who had arrived the previous year, also from Germany, through Ilse.  Gudrun was charmed by his good looks, manners, his kindness and even tempered personality.  They shared a strong mutual interest in country life and nature.  They married on 19 May 1956.  

Klaus and Gudrun bought a 200 acre farm and additionally, a 52 acre maple forest in Waterloo, Quebec in May 1961.  Children Andreas (1957), Heide (1959) and Roland (1965) were raised there, attending English Public and High School in Waterloo and Cowansville. They both enjoyed raising Simmental Fleckvieh cattle and Gudrun wove tapestries as hobbies.   Klaus supported the family through full-time employment (33 years) at Simonds Saw in Granby until his retirement in 1988.  

They retired from farming in 2001 at age 75, and moved to Kemptville, Ontario to join daughter Heide and family who lived in the area.  They lived in their beautiful new house until respectively 2016 (Klaus) and 2018 (Gudrun). Gardening projects and many social events were hosted and enjoyed over the years in Kemptville.  

Gudrun and Klaus` 61 year marriage was spent as a harmonious team, working together to create a home and successful family. 

Gudrun lived at Russell Meadows Retirement Community (Russell, Ontario) from end 2018 – 2022, and in long term care Dec 22 to Jan 24. Almost her entire life was spent in excellent health without medication or pain, which enabled her longevity. 

She passed away, cared for lovingly, on Tuesday, January 23^rd, 2024 at Dundas Manor in Winchester, Ontario, due to complications of old age at 97 years, 2 1\2 months short of her 98^th birthday. 

Gudrun was predeceased by Klaus (2018), sisters Irene (1923) and Sigrun (1998), and great-grandchild Elodie (2023).  

Survived by brother: Alwin (Nonthaka), nephews: Ralph (Marsha), Jürgen (Gaby), Gerald and Robin,  children: Andreas (Noreen), Heide, Roland (Kristie), grandchildren: Kristi, Leslie (Philip), Kaitlin (Mitchell), Olivia (Jeremy), Vienna and Erika,   great-grandchildren: Amelia, James, Theo and Ophelia Iris (born on February 1st, 2024). 

Gudrun was a cherished wife, mother, friend and family matriarch and is so very much missed now and forever. 

A graveside service will be held on Sunday, March 10^th, 2024, at Capital Memorial Home & Cemetery, 3700 Prince of Wales Drive, Ottawa.  

As expressions of sympathy, donations in memory of Gudrun for the building of the new Dundas Manor in Winchester would be appreciated. Winchester - Make A Donation (dundasmanor.ca)

(Check box:    Dundas Manor Redevelopment Fund – for a new and vibrant Dundas Manor)

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Mutter und Vater 

Ihr seit unser Vorbild im guten und im schönen; 

wie mann sein Leben in Frieden, Freude und mit Liebe

 zu einander und zur Arbeit gestaltet.  

Gestern, heute und für immer.