Keller, Frieda

Frieda Keller passed away on July 20, 2018 in her 93rd year, at Innisfree House Hospice.

She is survived by her children Betty Anne Keller (Alan McGowan) and Rob Keller (Susan Kinzie) and predeceased by her beloved husband Jake.

Frieda savoured the years of her life with the arrival of her grandchildren Jonathon Recchia, (Irene Recchia) Holly Recchia, (Martin Darveau) Jacob Kinzie Keller and Dana Patricia Keller, and her great-grandchildren Alexandra, Katherine, Sam, Lucie, Raine and Stirling.

Frieda was born on September 16, 1924 in Draas, Roumania. She was 12 years old when she emigrated to Canada with her sister Sara and her brother Mike. The three young people travelled to Kitchener to reunite as a family with their parents Michael and Sara Mueller. Their home on Ezra Avenue in Waterloo became a place of welcome to other new Canadians making the same transition. Over the years, Frieda maintained a loving relationship with her sister Sara and husband Paul Binder, and her brother Mike and wife Irmgard, who is still living. Frieda met her handsome husband Jake at a dance at the Summer Gardens just after the war, and they spent as much time as they could dancing together over the 49 years they were married. At their family home on Albert Street, Jake and Frieda rented rooms to university students – creating a stimulating home environment for Betty and Rob, and for themselves. In her home, hospitality was always quickly offered to all visitors – and usually included Frieda’s home baking. Frieda’s happiest working years were spent as the voice of the courtesy desk at K-Mart in Waterloo Town Square, where she would enjoy making her announcements and engaging in chats with customers and colleagues. After her retirement, she volunteered at other places where her natural sociability was welcomed – the Rockway Mennonite School Thrift Shop and HopeSpring Cancer Support Centre. After they moved to Lakeshore neighbourhood Frieda and Jake were members at Messiah Lutheran Church in Waterloo and enjoyed the warm sense of community there. In addition to her immediate family, she will be missed by surviving members of her large extended family and many nieces and nephews – including Greta Cadzow (Bill), Ron Rockel (Grace), Jeanne Boule (Al), Stephen Karn, Richard Miller (Janice), Dennis Miller ( Darlene), Gary Miller (Marilyn) and many great nieces and nephews. Frieda loved her husband and family, she loved to dance and she loved to cook and bake. Her magic touch with kipfel dies with her.

Frieda's family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday, July 24, 2018 from 10-10:45 am at the Henry Walser Funeral Home, 507 Frederick St., Kitchener 519-749-8467. The funeral service will take place in chapel of the funeral home at 11 am on Tuesday followed by a reception.

In lieu of flowers, donations are gratefully accepted in Frieda’s name to Innisfree House Hospice, Kitchener ON. (cards available at the funeral home).

Visit www.henrywalser.com for Frieda's memorial.