Obituary of Mary Magdalena Gritzfeld

Mary Magdalena Herman Gritzfeld Magdalena was born on September 29, 1920 on Sec. 34, Tp. 26, R. 22, W 2nd, the oldest daughter to Jacob and Maria (nee Kelln) Herman. Magdalena was baptized on November 7, 1920 and confirmed on May 31, 1936, both at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Duval. Her family farmed in the Valley Centre District and she attended the Valley Centre School, obtaining her Grade 8. She lived for a time in the Mountain View district before returning to the Valley Centre district when she married David Gritzfeld on June 28, 1942. The marriage was blessed with two children: John and Elaine. Like many farm wives, she was kept busy doing chores, growing a large garden, canning, pickling, and also baking. In 2000, Magdalena moved to the Southey Pioneer Lodge where she continued to garden at the age of 92 years. Magdalena had an incredible memory. People marveled at how she could give the dates of births, weddings, deaths, and many other events without looking in a book. To those close to her, she was known as "Grandma Scooter Bug", "Garden Grandma" and "’Stats’ Canada". Magdalena entered eternal life on January 22, 2016 at the General Hospital in Regina, Saskatchewan. She was predeceased by her husband David in 1998 and by son John in 2008; by two brothers, Jacob (Julia) Herman and Sam (Ardis) Herman; three sisters, Elizabeth (in infancy), Kay (Armin) Tourney, and Clara (D'Alton) Billingsley; and one step-granddaughter Holly Schienbein. She is survived by her daughter Elaine (Paul) Schienbein, sister Ruth Nelson, daughter-in-law Eileen Gritzfeld, two step-granddaughters, seven step-great-grandchildren, and ten step-great-great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends. Memorial Service will be held at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Duval SK on Saturday, January 30, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Dr. Lois Knudson Munholland officiating. Interment in Duval Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Magdalena's memory may be made to The Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada, 26-1738 Quebec Avenue, Saskatoon, SK, S7K 1V9 or the Allan Blair Cancer Centre, 200-4545 Parliament Avenue, Regina, SK, S4W 0G3. To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.speersfuneralchapel.com