Irma Selma (Riesch) Toepell

In the late afternoon of Tuesday, November 2nd, 2021 our Mother, Omi, Aunt and Friend passed away peacefully and at peace with her life. Irma Selma Toepell (née Riesch) exited this world as graciously as she moved through it. At home in Dundas, Ontario, and with time to say goodbye to those she loved most, Irma closed her eyes in her own bed for the last time. She was 84 years old. She is lovingly remembered and missed by her son, Steven, daughter-in-law, Becky and their children, Avery and Elena; son-in-law, Mikhail, daughter-in-law, Carol and their children, Olivia and Tatyana.

Born in Esslingen, near Stuttgart, in the southwest of Germany, February 9, 1937, Irma was one of six children born to Martha and Hermann Riesch, who operated a butcher shop in Esslingen. Irma was predeceased by her siblings Erwin, Lore, Hermann, Karl-Hans and Manfred (Sonne).

In the mid-1950’s, Irma travelled to England to work as an au pair for one year in order to learn English. This would prepare her for the next phase of her life. Emigrating to Canada in the summer of 1958 with her new husband Hans Dieter Toepell, the plan was to stay for 5 years. Friendships were established, children were born, a life was built and 5 years turned into 63.

Irma’s first employer in Canada was the Bank of Nova Scotia. Her calm and personable way served her well as a bank teller. Dealing with the public was a strength for Irma. Many clients were regular customers, and they became fixtures in each other’s lives. She would leave the bank to raise two children, Andréa and Steven, yet she returned in good time to round out a multi-decade career.

In the 1970s, Irma became an accomplished potter and even taught pottery classes for children at a local community school. In the 1980s, she turned her creative flair to painting, both oils and watercolors. She was a prolific artist and her home was well appointed with original art. Her family and friends greatly appreciated her gifts of paintings and proudly displayed her art in their homes. Every card she gave was an original piece. Several times over the years she held or participated in successful showings where she was able to share her talents with the community.

As a lover of the arts, Irma thoroughly enjoyed and for many years held season tickets to performances of ballet, opera, and classical music. She was especially delighted when she invited her friends and family to share in these performances.

Always an avid reader, the many books that lined the shelves in her home revealed an eclectic taste in literature. Irma read everything from the classics to biographies, art history and even the odd romance novel and would generously share her finds with anyone who expressed an interest.

Of all her siblings, Irma was closest to her brother Sonne throughout their lives as they were the youngest in their family and the only ones to emigrate, she to Canada and Sonne to the US. Fond memories were created for them as well as for Andréa and Steven during visits, such as to Sonne’s ski chalet in the Catskill Mountains in Upstate New York - skiing in winter and horseback riding in summer.

Irma was well travelled. During some Canadian winters, she escaped south to Jamaica, Cuba, Florida and Martinique. She also travelled by cruise ship. Her favourite route was Vancouver to Alaska. She liked it so much she took two of her granddaughters to share in the marvels of the wild terrain. She frequently returned home to her native Germany to visit friends and family. These often included side trips with her sister, Lore, where the two of them explored many other European destinations. In later years, she often combined these trips home with visits to the spa town of Bad Krozingen, where she took the waters and had treatment for a heart arrhythmia that plagued her for many years.

No stranger to difficult times, Irma saw divorce and then, in 2004, the untimely death of her beloved daughter and best friend, Andréa. A blow that would deliver a pain that, as one would expect, never left her side. Irma still found joy in her grandchildren, Olivia, Tatyana, Avery and Elena, and their families. She did her best to stay engaged in life, but physical frailty came and by the end, she lived very quietly, having contact with a small number of close friends, as well as the regular care provided by her son, Steven, and her personal support workers.

The family would like to thank Personal Support Workers Wendy Smith and Esther Sim, who looked after the morning essentials; Gail Reid who kept things neat and tidy and would sometimes just check in when she was in the neighbourhood; and Dana Murphy from St. Joseph’s Estate for making herself available to look after small maintenance issues. All of you played a large role in making sure that our Omi was able to live in her own home for as long as she did and not be too alone during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The family would also like to express their gratitude to the doctors, nurses and nurses in-training at St. Joseph’s Healthcare, Hamilton. From the Emergency Department, where Irma spent the first few days of a month-long stay to those of the 6th floor of the Clinical Teaching Unit/North, the family was always impressed with the capable, confident, compassionate and gentle care that Irma received.

Irma’s remains will be interred at White Chapel Memorial Gardens, Hamilton, Ontario on February 9th, 2022 at 2pm, followed by a celebration of life with details to follow.

In lieu of flowers, Irma would have been pleased if donations were made to either of the charities listed below. (If you decide to honour Irma in this way, there is an option to make your donation in honour or dedicated to Irma Toepell and if you list this email address in the dedication - toepell112@gmail.com - the family will be able to acknowledge your generosity):

The Scott Mission - Irma was a long time supporter of this charity.

https://donate.scottmission.com/page/84617/donate/1

Or donations can be mailed to:

502 Spadina Avenue

Toronto, Ontario M5S 2H1

Art City - In St. Jamestown, Toronto, Art City provides free arts programming to local children and youth.

https://www.artcitytoronto.ca/

Or donations can be mailed to:

Art City in St. James Town

545 Sherbourne St., Unit 4

Toronto, ON

M4X1W5