March 13, 1945 -
January 10, 2006
After a year long struggle with cancer, she left us for a much better place, age 60.
Karla was born in Germany on March 13, 1945, and struggled with her family to survive in the aftermath of the Second World War. After several years of poor conditions, the family made their way to France where life she remembers was a bit better. In 1954 the family made it to Canada. She lived in Ontario for a while and then on to Alberta. In 1959 she moved to Hedley, B.C. to live with her dad, and met her husband to be. Married for 43 years, she always liked to recall that when she first married,
several people said it wouldn’t last six months, to which she likes to recall see you after fifty years. Her first few years involved moving around. First living in Horsefly, B.C. back to Hedley, B.C. on to Princeton, B.C., down to Vancouver, B.C., back to Hedley, B.C., then back to Horsefly, finally in 1966 to upper Fraser, B.C. to raise her family. In 1972 she and family moved to Ladysmith, and she said firmly, actually very firmly that this was her last move. With her kids getting older, she went back to work, planting trees as she had done in Upper Fraser. Planting trees was one job she enjoyed. In 1979 she started at Ladysmith Hospital in housekeeping. She was a friendly people person who made friends very fast. She worked at Ladysmith Hospital til she was diagnosed with Lymphoma Cancer. She went through the treatment and the cancer was in remission for 13 years. Then in late 2004, she was told she had lung cancer. She knew the odds of this cancer weren’t good, but she faced it the same way she faced every other problem that came her way, head held high and move forward.
She leaves behind her husband Alex, her daughter Karen of Ladysmith, sons Kenneth of Calgary, Alberta and Kevin of Victoria, B.C. Her beloved grandchildren: Brittny, Dustin, Jarrad and can’t forget Chelsea. She also leaves behind sisters Renate in Oliver, B.C., Christie in Sask., and Angie in Alberta. She will also be missed by her two little companions Missy and Bear her beloved mutts, who she enjoyed walking until her illness kept her from
walking.
Next to family life, she had several other passions she enjoyed. One was the union, mainly the H.E.U. which she belonged to for many years and attended many conventions over the years, to which she often said, I hope I have made a difference and perhaps changed something no matter how small.
One other joy she had in life was her love of baking
cookies, setting up shop on Sundays at Western Speedway. She was fondly known as “The Cookie Lady”. Well folks, the cookie lady has retired.
She never got to make the big travel trip she was always planning, but made many trips to Reno and Las Vegas, which was to her, home away from home, she loved the slot machines.
She was a caring person who always had the time no matter how busy to stop and talk if she could help in any way.
No service by request. Friends so wishing may make a donation in her name to the Canadian Cancer Society, Vancouver Branch or as she said, plant a small flower in your garden and watch it grow.