Obituary of Birte Baasch Jorgensen

At the grand age of 96, Bea, as she was known by many, passed away in her sleep peacefully, the night of Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at Winston Park Long Term Care Home in Kitchener, Ontario.

Birte was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, June 2, 1928 to mother Edith Baasch Nielsen and father Sofus Antonius Nielsen. She and her young daughter Lisa, and Birte’s husband Borge, immigrated to Toronto, Canada in 1956 to start a new life. Along with learning to speak English from scratch, Birte began working consistently at various jobs. Later she bravely took a chef’s course at George Brown College in Toronto and graduated as an Executive Chef. Before retirement, her last position was working at the Vanier Center for women in Brampton where she was the kitchen manager and chef. She loved travel, gardening, and was an amazingly talented artist. Her greatest loves were the dogs and cats that she cared for in her home, many of them having been rescued.

Birte is survived by daughter Lisa Refling Gibbs of Jacksonville, Florida, grandson Jason Nickolas Refling, great-grandsons Finn Terje Refling and Sam Sebastian Refling, all from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

Birte is predeceased by husband Borge Ernst Jorgensen and her parents Sofus Antonious Nielsen and Edith Baasch Nielsen.

A very special thanks to Anne and Terje Refling who loved and cared for her like their own mother and spent much time with her in her last years, taking her to appointments and special outings, especially to her loved Sunset Villa with the Danish restaurant, and keeping her company at Arbour Trails Retirement Home in Guelph, and then Winston Park Long Term Care in Kitchener.

Cremation has taken place. A private family service will be held at a later date. Condolences for the family and donations to the Toronto Humane Society may be arranged through the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S, Waterloo, at www.erbgood.com.