Obituary of Anita Loepp

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Died, at peace, on Monday, June 3, 2024 at the age of 94. 

Survived by her five children Rudi (Barbara), Edie (Len), Ingrid (Jim), Karl (Gayda), and Heidi (Paul) and 11 grandchildren, Colin (Bronwyn), Josiah (Sara), Jonny (Tessa), Nick (Chiara), Ally (Eddy), Jordan (Bethany), Thomas (Wiebke), Austin (Nikki), Natasha (Ari), Anneli (Joshua), Joanna (Nolan) and great grandchildren James, Audrey and Henry. 

Predeceased by her beloved husband Henry in 2002, her dear son-in-law Mike, Tante Michi, her parents Alvina and Hans Juergen Hering, her sister Gerda, Tante Emma, Tante Alvina and her cousin Ida.  

Anita was born in 1929 in Ukraine at a very tumultuous time in history. She was orphaned, losing her parents at the age of seven. To escape the ravages of war she fled west in the care of an aunt. By the time the war was drawing to an end, she had lost contact with her aunt, her sister, and her cousin. At the tender age of 15, she found herself entirely alone in a war zone. She lived in Germany for six years, working on various farms, and maintaining contact with the kind and loving Stoppel family of Zebelin for the rest of her life. In time she was connected with her mother’s cousin and her two daughters, and eagerly joined them in their trek to Canada. Reflecting back, she said “The moment I saw Halifax, I loved Canada.” Anita settled in Winnipeg in 1950. Here she created a new family, bigger than she could ever have imagined, and one that she would never lose.  She and Henry were married in 1953. By the time she reached the twelve-year anniversary of her arrival in Winnipeg, she was the proud mother of five children. She delighted in caring for her “big family”, as she called it, was a fantastic cook (her perogies were truly exceptional), a big batch baker, a seamstress and an eager do-it-yourselfer. She supported her husband Henry in the development of Valour Decorating and in endless home improvements projects. Together they bought an old cottage at Westhawk Lake and transformed it into a beautiful, welcoming gathering place for the family. It became her favourite place in the world. She just loved watching things be renewed. Reupholstering a pull-out sofa was not a task too big for her. “Ach, halb so schlimm” (Oh, its half that bad) was her response to projects most of us would find daunting and beyond comprehension. She supported her children as they followed their dreams, and embraced activities, learning and jobs that she never had the opportunity to even consider for herself. She celebrated and marveled at everyone’s accomplishments and when the grandchildren came along, she quietly delighted in their activities. She was enormously and modestly proud of her big family and felt deep gratitude for them all. Daily she prayed for each and every one by name. Indeed, her final prayer was “Thank you Lord for my big family.” She pursued her own dreams, taking correspondence courses and art classes, volunteering, helping at church, quilting and sewing. At the age of 70 she and Henry made a big move from Winnipeg to Waterloo, and they wholeheartedly embraced this new place, their new church, and Mennonite Central Committee, where Anita loved to volunteer. She wanted to make a difference, and she did.  She felt deeply blessed in her life and saw coming to Canada as one of the best things that could have happened to her. She never thought there was anything to complain about. Her gratitude was unbounded.

Her energy, her laughter, her strength, her endless willingness to help, her eye for beauty, her resolve to keep going, her sayings for everything, and above all her self-giving love will be deeply missed by her family and those who shared a friendship with her. Each of us has been shaped by this amazing woman and carries part of her with us. 

A private burial service will be held at Parkview Cemetery. Visitation will precede the service at Waterloo-Kitchener United Mennonite Church, 15 George St, Waterloo, on Friday, June 7, 2024 from 12pm – 1pm. The Funeral Service will begin at 1pm with Pastor Wanda Roth Amstutz officiating. Livestreaming will be available through a link on the funeral home’s website. A Reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, condolences for the family and donations in honour of Anita may be made to her favourite charity, Mennonite Central Committee through www.erbgood.com.