Obituary of Elsie E. Shantz

To view a recording of the funeral service, please click HERE.

Elsie (Hunsberger) passed away peacefully on July 25th at Columbia Forest Long Term Care in Waterloo, Ontario at 93 years of age.

Elsie was the wife of Glen S. Shantz to whom she was married for 67 years and who predeceased her in December 2022. She was the mother of Robert and his wife Debra of New Hamburg, Susan of Saskatoon, SK, Brenda and her husband Alan Broussard of Lafayette, LA, Graham and his wife Melanie Alton of Ottawa and Richard and his wife Ruth-Ann of London. Grandmother to Erin, Amy and Rachel Broussard (Kaley Evans), Zachary, William, Benjamin, Jonathan and Leif Shantz. She is survived by her brother Ken Hunsberger of RR2 Baden, her sister Mary Schiedel of Waterloo, sisters-in-law Catherine Hunsberger of Waterloo and Ruth Hunsberger of Baden.  Elsie was predeceased by her parents, Mary (Cressman) and Eldon Hunsberger, brothers Enos, Willis and Floyd Hunsberger, brothers-in-law George Schiedel and John Stutzman and sisters Amy Hunsberger and Erma Stutzman and sister-in-law Shirley Hunsberger.

Elsie was raised on Donel Farms located in Wilmot Township.  The farm shared the corner with Shantz Mennonite Church which her family attended.   Elsie went to a one room schoolhouse with her seven siblings and as a young woman she graduated from Winter Bible School at First Mennonite Church. She worked at Chesley Lake Mennonite Camp in the dining room, as a hired girl with the Dicken family and as a telephone operator at Bell before marrying Glen in 1955. She raised five children while helping Glen run his successful electrical business. Elsie was an active member at Erb Street Mennonite church where she was involved in leading Sunday School, Summer Vacation Bible School, Sewing Circle, and the Women’s Mission and Services Auxiliary. She also served as the first woman Elder of Erb Street Mennonite church.  Elsie’s greatest joy was visiting with friends and family especially with her grandchildren whom she loved to host in Sarasota, Florida, at the family cottage in Port Elgin as well as on Golfview Place in Kitchener. The grandchildren have many quilted and knitted items made by their grandma over the years as well as a collection of some of her favourite recipes in a cookbook titled, “Cooking with Grandma.” In addition, Elsie was an avid, lifelong reader, and balanced against her outward activities, she treasured evenings of peace and quiet with a good book.  Elsie has passed on a legacy of hospitality, laughter and love to all her children and grandchildren.

A special thanks is extended to her caregiver Paula Hummel as well as all the staff at Columbia Forest Long Term Care who cared for Elsie over the past four years. Their dedication and professionalism, right through a pandemic, are deeply appreciated.

A Celebration of Life service at Erb Street Mennonite Church, 131 Erb St. W., Waterloo will be held on Friday, August 11, 2023 at 3:30pm, with a visitation at the church for one hour prior. A light meal will follow the service in the church hall.

Condolences for the family and donations to Mennonite Central Committee or Erb Street Mennonite Church would be appreciated in lieu of flowers as expressions of sympathy and may be arranged through the funeral home, www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445.