Obituary of Genovefa Schneider
GENOVEFA (JENNY) SCHNEIDER
Genovefa, better known to her friends and family in Canada as “Jenny”, passed away peacefully, and unexpectedly, at Grand River Hospital on June 5th 2020, in her 93rd year. Central to her life was her family. She will be greatly missed by her beloved daughter Hildegard and son Martin; and precious granddaughters Anita and Andrea. Jenny was predeceased by her loving husband Martin.
Jenny had what might be called a unique childhood. Jenny was born to Alois and Maria Bruendl in Piesendorf, Austria on December 29th 1927, and was the 9th child of what eventually was a family of 13. Growing up in rural Austria was not as idyllic as one might imagine. Jenny survived a serious case of diphtheria and the family faced many hard times during the depression era including times when she & her siblings rarely wore shoes in the warm months as the one pair that they each had, had to be saved for the colder times of the year when shoes were needed. She had a hard life, but she stressed that her large family always had love, each other for support and a wonderful farm life filled with plenty of animals.
Jenny’s teenage years were equally challenging with the onset of World War 2. Four of Jenny’s older brothers, Josef, Franz, Ferdinand and Georg, served the war effort in different capacities. Sadly, her brother Franz was killed in action in Finland; Ferdinand was seriously wounded in Russia; and during the same period her youngest brother Hubert was killed in an alpine accident.
Jenny was a courageous young woman in so many ways. When her badly wounded brother Ferdinand wanted family to visit him in hospital near Dresden and later in Graz, Jenny, at 16 and on her own, undertook the two very risky trips to visit him – travelling by trains that were often the targets of airstrikes and bombings. These brave efforts bonded Ferdinand and Jenny as they remained close for the remainder of his life until he sadly passed at the age of 91 in 2013.
Jenny met the love of her life and future husband, Martin Schneider, a few years after the war. Jenny, now 20, met Martin, who after being released from an American POW camp near Austria, was working as a stable hand in the village where she lived. A romance quickly blossomed. Martin and Jenny were married in 1949 and welcomed their 1st child Hildegard (Hilda). To Jenny’s delight, other members of Martin’s family soon joined them in Austria, his sister Marie Keul and her husband Fritz and their 2 young children, Elfriede and Fred.
Jenny’s next big adventure began in 1951 when the Schneider and Keul families emigrated to Canada to join Martin’s father who had emigrated to Canada in the 1920s. A new beginning in a new land. For a girl raised in rural Austria, one wonders what was in her mind as they sold off their few belongings that they could not take with them, and headed off by train to Le Havre to board the Cunard ship Georgic that was to take them to Halifax and beyond. Jenny often recounted that her family was skeptical of her decision to leave her large family in Austria to come to an unknown country across the vast Atlantic Ocean, but it was one choice she never regretted.
Life in Canada was not easy for Jenny – especially in the first few years – as jobs were scarce and with Jenny not being able to speak English. Jenny, with her husband Martin and their daughter Hilda, lived and worked for three years on a farm in Breslau, just outside of Kitchener. Meanwhile, the Keul family settled in Hamilton, living near Martin’s father and mother. Despite living in two different cities, these two families remained close over the decades – travelling for family get togethers and special events.
Hard work, and making a dollar stretch as far as possible, was something that came natural to Jenny and Martin. Jenny was a skilled seamstress, however there was no job that Jenny would not undertake including housekeeping, sewing draperies and bridal alterations. Martin was able to find employment in Kitchener at J.M. Schneider, from which he would eventually retire after over 30 years of loyal service.
The late 1950s was another important period in Jenny's life, as she and her husband Martin purchased their 1st house in Kitchener in 1955, bought their 1st car in 1958, and welcomed their 2nd child Martin Jr in 1957. Jenny’s life revolved around her family & making this house a home; and there was nothing more important to her than her husband and children Hilda & Martin Jr.
The extended family was very important to Jenny. Jenny was thrilled when two of her nephews from Austria, Hubert and Herman with his wife Elfriede, came to Canada and lived in the Kitchener area. Jenny had a special bond with them, and she enjoyed spending time with them and sharing stories over many meals and "Kaffee & Kuchen". Jenny also delighted in returning to Austria to visit her large family of sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews.
Jenny had a wonderful relationship with her daughter Hilda who married Toni in 1972; and became a doting grandmother to their lovely daughters Anita and Andrea. Anita and Andrea spent many glorious days with Oma and Opa. Jenny always had a story or photo of her granddaughters, which she proudly shared to whomever she was with. Jenny was thrilled when her beloved granddaughters wed two wonderful young men – Anita and Donovan & Andrea and Aron.
Jenny particularly relished family gatherings and holidays with her family. Family trips ranged from visiting family in Austria, trips to Norway, the Caribbean, Hawaii, the Yukon and Western Canada, as well as camping/road trips across Ontario and Eastern Canada/USA – to relaxing at the cottage on Lake Huron.
Jenny was an excellent cook! Her schnitzel, cabbage rolls and rouladen were much coveted and unsurpassed. Jenny always ensured that family & guests had something to eat and/or were sent away with a parcel of food to eat later. Ensuring visitors were well fed was not limited to people – visiting dogs were always sure to come home much heavier than when they arrived at Jenny’s house.
Jenny was an avid gardener who loved her flowers & growing vegetables at home and at the cottage. She was very proud of her garden.
Jenny was a long-time & faithful member of her congregation. Over the years, she created friendships with numerous ones in the congregation. Her love, personal interest & generosity drew them to her. Many of them, viewed her as a mother or grandmother.
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the wonderful Intensive Care Unit staff at Grand River Hospital for their compassion, empathy and supportive care; and their efforts to enable the family to give their final farewells to Jenny.
Due to current limitations, a memorial service will be held at a later date. Online condolences can be made using this memorial website. In lieu of donations or flowers, please keep Jenny in your thoughts and remember what a wonderful and caring person she was to those who were fortunate enough to know her. She will be greatly missed.
