Obituary of Helga von Aderkas

Passed away in Waterloo on December 13, 2013 at the age of 91. Predeceased by her husband Heinz, who died in 1999, she is survived by her daughter Brigitte, sons Patrick (Elizabeth) and Lex, as well as grandchildren Nelly, Edward, Max, Hayley, Garrett, their spouses and partners. Born in Nömme near Tallinn, Helga spent her childhood years in Estonia until the outbreak of World War II, when the family was relocated to Warthegau, in occupied Poland. She married Heinz in March, 1945. When the eastern front collapsed, she fled with her in-laws to northwest Bavaria. Her husband returned from French prisoner-of-war camps three years later and they started a family. In 1950, they emigrated to Canada. After a year as indentured farm labour near Linwood, they moved to London, Ontario where Helga rose from being a house cleaner to librarian's position at University of Western Ontario. She would eventually receive her Bachelor of Arts from UWO. Upon her retirement, Helga and Heinz moved to Waterloo. She then enrolled at University of Waterloo. At 72, she defended her Masters thesis on the work of the poet Manfred Kyber. Helga was an active member in the Baltic-German community in London and Kitchener-Waterloo. She had great affection for her friends and family and had a wonderful sense of humour. Her last years were spent in Luther Village on the Park where she was lovingly cared for. A service will be held in Helga's memory in the chapel of the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo on Saturday, December 21, 2013 at 11 a.m. with Rev. Mark Harris officiating. Memorial donations to either the Alzheimer Society Kitchener/Waterloo http://www.alzheimer.ca/en/kw/Get-involved or to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario http://www.heartandstroke.on.ca/ would be appreciated. Condolences for the family may also be arranged by contacting the funeral home at www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445.