Obituary of Gabriele Maria Reinoehl

Gabriele Zeisel Reinoehl of Regina, Saskatchewan, passed away suddenly of heart complications with her daughter at her side on January 1, 2011, at the age of 81. Gabi was born on March 23, 1929, in Deutsch-Proben, Slovakia, to Eleanor and Alois Zeisel, who precede her in death. After the Partisan invasion into Czechoslovakia during WWII, Gabi and her family fled their home country and ultimately immigrated to Neuffen, Germany. There, during the hard but celebratory times following the end of the war, she met her future husband Wilhelm Reinoehl. She told a nurse before she passed away how much she loved to dance when she was younger and that her Neuffen friends, who called her Bella,? would dance around her when the band played Bella, Bella, Marie.? Gabi and her family immigrated to Montreal, Canada, in 1951, and she and Wilhelm were married in Montreal on March 15, 1952. Gabi worked for over 25 years in Montreals fashion district as a manager and designer for Ackerman Knit Goods, where she designed sweaters for each fashion season for department stores including Eatons. Gabi continued to create and knit beautiful sweaters for her granddaughters, great-grandsons and any friend who had a baby up until her passing. Those years, Gabi, Wilhelm and their daughter Renny spent many enjoyable weekends with family and friends in Rawdon, Quebec, in the Laurentian Mountains outside of Montreal. The three of them also traveled across the United States, Canada and Mexico and took many trips to Europe to visit family and friends. Often Rennys good friend Margaret Lauzier Senra came along, who growing up was like a second daughter to Gabi and Wilhelm. Later, Gabi so enjoyed watching her niece Barbara grow up. In 1989, Gabi and Wilhelm retired to Regina, Saskatchewan, to be closer to their daughter Renny, son-in-law Russell and granddaughters in northeastern Montana. In Regina, Gabi continued her talents for sewing, needlepoint, knitting, gardening, cooking and baking. Her tortes were a favorite not only of her familys, but of members of the Regina German Club. Gabis homemade spaetzle noodles, potato salad, red cabbage, strawberry and kiwi jam were also infamous among friends and family. Mostly, Gabi will be missed for her caring and generous spirit. As her own parents aged, she took devoted care of them. Gabi was also always a comforting phone call away from friends and family and was always putting together the next care package to send family members. She was not only her granddaughters Aby? but also Aby? to their many friends and cousins. Gabi loved to visit with people and tell storiesno one was a stranger to her for long. Gabi leaves behind her loving husband Wilhelm of 58 years, beloved daughter Renny and son-in-law Russell Torgerson of Dagmar, Montana, and her granddaughters, who were dear to her heart, Lori (Chris) Warden of Missoula, Montana; Kathleen Hurst of Girdwood, Alaska; Louise Torgerson of Spokane, Washington; and Megan Torgerson of Missoula, Montana; as well as her special little boys, great-grandsons Finley and William Warden and Odin Hurst. She is also survived by her brothers Willi (Lucille) Zeisel of Montreal and Roland (Sharon) Zeisel of Ottawa; her devoted niece Barbara (Romeo) Cacciotti and grand-niece Sienna of Ottawa; nephew Andrew Zeisel of Montreal; the Zeisel and Reinoehl families in Germany, and treasured friends Maria Kernke of Montreal and Margrit Mueller of Germany, with whom the Zeisels lived after they fled their homeland. Her concern for others, her smile, laughter and wonderful cooking and baking will be missed by many, especially her husband and family. A private memorial service will be held in late May at Volmer Church in Dagmar, Montana, where she so enjoyed the fellowship of her familys friends. Friends, so wishing, may make donations in memoriam to the charity of their choice. Auf Wiedersehen unsere liebe Gabi, Mami und Aby.