JULY 24, 1935 – DECEMBER 7, 2023
After a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's disease, Elfriede Bergman née Quapp passed away peacefully at Hilltop Manor, early morning on Thursday, December 7th. She is predeceased by her loving husband Henry with whom she shared over 64 years of marriage. She is survived by her daughter Barbara-Anne, son-in-law George, granddaughters Chelsea (Christine) and Mary (Henry), her sister Rosemarie (late Peter), brother-in-law Frank (late Barbara), nieces and nephews.
Elfriede is also predeceased by her parents Johannes and Anna Quapp, her in-laws Heinrich and Sara Bergmann, brother John, sister-in-law Louise, sister Liesbeth, her niece Marian, nephews Ron and Jerry, as well as many good friends.
Elfriede was born in Neustädterwald, West Prussia on July 24, 1935. In January of 1952 her family left Germany onboard the Beaverbrae and emigrated to Canada where they settled in Leamington, Ontario. It was here that Elfriede met the love of her life, Henry. Together they worked on their farm and provided a welcoming home. Many gatherings and celebrations were held here through their years on the farm.
As well as being a wonderful wife and mother she was a talented seamstress, baker, gardener, and great hostess. In 1990, she became a proud Oma with the birth of Chelsea and then again in 1993 with the birth of Mary. They were the sunshine in her life, and she loved them so much. It was for this reason that she wanted to leave their home, family and friends in Leamington and move closer to her granddaughters. She and Henry moved to Cambridge in 2000 and this is the biggest gift that they could have given us. This gave her the opportunity to attend hockey games, dance recitals, school concerts, and many other events. No birthday was complete without a birthday cake expertly baked by Elfriede. The memory of our weekly dinners is something her family will cherish forever.
Besides being a hard worker, Elfriede was also generous with her time as a volunteer. She continued this when they moved to Cambridge where she volunteered with Meals on Wheels, Friendly Visiting, and the Ontario Christian Gleaners.
Elfriede moved into long term care in December of 2018. We will be forever grateful to the staff and caregivers at Hilltop Manor. We especially wish to thank the team on the Grand River Unit where Elfriede spent the last four years. No words can express our gratitude to all those who took care of Elfriede and treated her with kindness and compassion, you became part of her family. We also wish to thank the families of some of the residents for their support, we shared laughter and tears and through it all have gained a special friendship.
There will be a private service for her immediate family. She will be cremated and together with Henry, will be interred in Leamington at a later date.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be sent to the Ontario Christian Gleaners at 1550 Morrison Rd., Cambridge. Elfriede spoke often about being thankful for the food sent to them in Germany during the lean years following the war.
Arrangements entrusted to T. Little Funeral Home & Cremation Centre
