Gertrude (Trudy) Maher (nee Kohl)
January 11, 1930 - October 31, 2021
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our excellent Mom. She passed away peacefully after a long battle with dementia at the age of 91.
She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her family and friends. Children: Rita Maher, Shirley Williams (Dave Williams) and Edward Maher (Debbie Maher). Grandchildren: Jacquelyn and Robyn Anderson and Joe and Sarah Williams. Her two remaining brothers: Leo Kohl and Fritz Kohl and their families, along with families of her deceased sister Erna Panzenboeck and brother Frank Kohl. Lovingly missed and cherished also by many nieces and nephews and extended family.
Trudy was born and raised in a small village (Pernitz) in Austria. She had 4siblings and all survived WW2. Seeking a new life in Canada, herself and her siblings boarded a ship in France and sailed off to Halifax, arriving Oct. 1954. Mom was 24 years old. They took a train to Edmonton and the rest is history. Mom met Ed Maher in Edmonton and they were married in 1961. They longed for the farm life and bought a farm near Cherhill. They had 3 children, Rita, Shirley and Eddie and raised mixed farming (mostly beef and grain) and mom always had ahuge garden and enjoyed her chickens and turkeys. She worked alongside Dad to make their farm and family a success. They had many friends in the area and enjoyed visiting and going for coffee at one another's homes. She enjoyed watching “wrestling”, “playing cards” or “bingo” etc. Mom was well known for her cheeriness, flexibility, peacefulness, graciousness, work ethic, excellent cooking, fun, hospitality, kindness, compassion and mostly her love for everyone around her. (Almost to the end, she blew us kisses each time we left her care centre). She had many challenges in life, but she always had the gift to make “lemonade out of lemons” and made the “best of everything”. Mom and Dad enjoyed their farm for 40 years and after dad passed away, she moved to Barrhead and later onto Westlock for her final years. Like the Edelweiss flower of Austria, blooms on the Alps, our beautiful Momma is blooming in her heavenly home now, no longer suffering and with her Lord, family and friends. Her loving legacy will continue to guide our lives as we remember her and cherish her forever.
Trudy was predeceased by her husband: Edward Maher, Parents from Austria: Frank and Hilda Kohl, her sister Erna Panzenboeck, her brother Frank Kohl and her infant sister: Katrina. The family thanks the amazing care at the Westlock Continuing Care Centre, The Barrhead Hillcrest and numerous Doctors and care providers over the years. Donations in honor of Trudy’s name, may be made to: The Westlock Continuing Care Centre, The Barrhead Hillcrest Foundation, The Altzeimers Society of Alberta or your own donation choice. Due to covid, private small Viewing and Funeral Services held Nov.8 and 9/21.
Please click on the link below to be taken to the live stream, available at 10:50 AM on Tuesday November 9, 2021 https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/authorise. php?k=1635974113146201
Arrangements in care of Rose Garden Chapel
LIFE WELL CELEBRATED
