Tina Ostermann

1943 - 2017

After a life lived with strength and grace Mom passed away on May 23, 2017 at the age of 73.  She passed knowing she was surrounded by the unconditional love of her family and friends. 

Mom has joined the waiting arms of her son Kurt, who passed in 2004.  She was also predeceased by father Martin (1974), mother Luise (1969), older brother Peter (1941) and twin brother Heinrich (1944).  Left to remember her with love and fondness are her family: son Scott, daughter-in-law Tanis, the apples of her eye, granddaughters Sydney and Laina, brother John, cousins Tina (Frank) and Bill.  Mom was blessed to have many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, ‘in-laws’ and friends who cherished their time with her.

 Mom was born Katharina Peters August 8, 1943 in Russia.  Her family fled Russia and came to Canada, via Poland, in 1948.  The family eventually settled in North Kildonan where Mom spent her youth.  She married dad in 1968 and moved to Little Britain (Lockport).  Mom stayed there until 2004, when she moved back to North Kildonan where she rekindled old friendships and made many new ones.  Despite Mom and Dad parting ways in 1993 Mom was grateful to maintain close and loving relationships with her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, a testament to Mom’s strength of character, and commitment by both Mom and Dad to each others’ and our wellbeing.   She earned her B.Ed from the University of Manitoba and taught business administration courses at Red River College for over thirty years, establishing some lifelong friendships.  She retired early for health reasons and went on dialysis shortly afterwards.  There was no better, more effective or stronger advocate for Mom’s health than Mom herself.  Despite her many ailments and hospital visits over the last fifteen years Mom fought hard and with a positive attitude to get better and stay that way!  She was the patient who always expected to do more and better things coming out of the hospital than before she went in!  She received a kidney transplant in 2010, the date of which Sydney and Laina celebrated every year with “Happy Kidney Day, Oma!”.    Mom loved to travel and did so throughout her life whenever possible.  Her fondest memories were of family vacations when we were kids.  Over the last eleven years Mom’s attention and interest was almost entirely devoted to her granddaughters.  Whether hearing about school, listening to them read, playing cards, watching ringette or swimming, or enjoying the piano and violin ‘recitals’, she absolutely beamed with pride and loved to see her little girls happy and healthy.  Mom was a woman of strong faith but also knew and appreciated the role that science and medical care played in her life.  We had seven extra years together because someone signed an organ donor card.  Please consider signing up for organ donation through the organ donor card in your license or at www.signupforlife.ca. Should you desire, a donation may be made in Mom’s name to The Kidney Foundation. 

Cremation has taken place.  Memorial mass will be held Monday, May 29,  2:00 at St. Margaret’s Roman Catholic Church at 103 Little Britain Road. 

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