Dina Schoen

Dina Schoen

Suddenly yet gently Dina passed on April 23, 2019 at age 88, while working in her garden.

Left to cherish her memory are: son Oscar, daughter Irmgard Korody (Don), grandson Dale Korody (Renee), brother Oscar Pekau, sister Ella Carl (Ernst), sister Lydia Kempe, numerous nieces and nephews, and many friends. Dina is predeceased by her youngest child Hermann (in 1979), sister Herta Sprenger (Emil), brother Bruno Pekau, parents Max and Ella Pekau, and ex-husband Frank Schoen.

Dina was born in Lithuania and immigrated to Canada just after WWII, sponsored by Lutheran World Relief. Early years were spent working on farms and as a domestic/nanny where she excelled with her talents of meticulous housekeeping and love of young children.

She lived in Selkirk for 62 years and easily made friends everywhere she went - among neighbours, volunteer groups, at church, and with colleagues during her career at Home Care. She (in her own words) felt “richly blessed” by all her friends.

Dina was caring, generous and hard-working; well-known for springing into action if someone needed help. She was a dedicated volunteer, most recently at the Soup Kitchen (for 22 years) and Lutheran World Relief for which she rolled miles and miles of bandages with preciseness and quilted and crocheted for relief packages. Over the years Dina volunteered at a number of organizations including at Age & Opportunity as a visitor to shut-ins.

Her passion for flowers and gardening was evident starting with the family farm’s front yard lined with flowers, then to her first apartment in Selkirk where the narrow strip between buildings soon became a colourful display. In the past 23 years the circular garden that she tended at the front door of her residence (Kiwanis on the Red) has been enjoyed by many.

A celebration of Dina’s life will be held Thursday, May 23rd at 2:00 p.m. in the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Selkirk, MB (corner of Jemima St. and Clandeboye Ave.). Refreshments will follow in the Evangelical Lutheran Hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Dina’s memory can be made to Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen (Selkirk), or a charity of your choice.

Condolences may be left on her tribute wall at www.gilbartfuneralhome.com

Gilbart Funeral Home, Selkirk in care of arrangements.

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