Tribute

Wanda, Mom, Oma – if she heard, she answered to them all. Mom left us on April 26, 2024, surrounded by family and loved ones. Her last days, while not easy, were filled with love and compassion surrounded by family, friends, songs and prayers. We are all so grateful for the loving and caring staff at the Irene Thomas Hospice; your compassion will not be forgotten.

Wanda Neufeld (nee Penner) was born in 1939 in Adelsheim, Ukraine. Her early life was hard, and marked by many tragedies such as her family’s forced flight from their home and the loss of her sister and brother in the war. The surviving family members fled to Germany where they lost their mother to TB shortly before emigrating to Paraguay. Here they settled for a time before she accepted Eduard Neufeld’s hand in marriage and joined him in Canada in 1960.

Settling in Ladner, Ed and Wanda raised 5 kids. Along with many commitments (cleaning houses to help pay bills), she had many other passions, such as her involvement with the church where she sang in choir. She oversaw all things in the family home on Crescent Drive, enjoying gardening, cooking, baking, and welcoming visitors until almost the very end. She loved to travel to visit her loved ones.

Mom leaves behind Dad (Eduard), and five children: Karl (Dena), Rose (Stan), Ingrid, Ingo, and Mark (Leigh). Her legacy also lives on in her 10 grandchildren and 10 (soon 11) great grandchildren. Mom, your story was varied, interesting and beautiful. You left us with a roadmap of how to live and enjoy life, and we shall follow that map. With great sadness and heavy hearts we will now put your book on the shelf. Your legacy will continue in all of us.