Obituary of Friedrich Ehrlich

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After many walks on the trails in St. Jacob’s and in Waterloo, our dear ‘Onkel Fritz’ passed away peacefully in his retirement home at St. Jacob’s Place on Tuesday, April 15^th, 2025.   

Fred was born March 2, 1933 in Zied, Transylvania.  He emigrated to Waterloo, Canada in 1969  to start a new life with new opportunities away from the very repressive regime in Romania and to live closer to his brother, John and family.   He is predeceased by his four siblings, and in 2013, by his loving wife of 41 years, Agnes nee Bartel.

He will be missed by all his nieces and nephews including the next generations of great and great-great nieces and nephews both in Canada and in Germany who will remember his many family stories and wisdom. Meeting and holding the hands of the ‘little ones’ were some of his happiest moments.  He was thankful for shared walks and talks, whether on the St. Jacob’s trails or earlier visits in Waterloo where the tranquility and peace of the rose garden that was ‘Tante Agnes’ pride and joy continued to bloom under his care.

Fred was a skilled tile setter with a successful business valued by many in this region.  Upon retirement he remained very active playing chess, tending the garden and walking on the trails; collecting nettle leaves and drying these as part of his ‘daily health tea’.  When unwell, he started his ‘home treatments’ with exercise and other ‘healthy potions’ which gained him many caring and respectful conversations with his neighbours in Waterloo and all the doctors and nurses who cared for him over the years. His cardiologist once said to him: “Fred, if all my patients were doing what you do, I wouldn’t have a job’.  His determination to remain independent and active was an inspiration to us all.

The family is very grateful, as was Fred, to all the staff at St. Jacob’s Place who brought joy, laughter and care to all his days there. Many thanks to Dr. Cettimada who always had ‘an open door’ when needed.

Friends and family are invited to share their memories of Fred/Friedrich with his family at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo on Friday, May 9^th with a visitation at 10 am before the funeral service at 11 am. Reception to follow in the Fireside Reception Room.  Private family interment at Parkview Cemetery. 

Condolences for the family and donations to WRHN – Queen’s Blvd (formerly St. Mary’s Hospital), Bethel Lutheran Church,  Zied Church Restoration Fund (https://hog-zied.de/geschichte-des-foerdervereins/), or a Tree Planting Tribute to honour and add to the many trees he planted wherever he lived and worked. These can be made through the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home at www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445.