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Helene Kroeger
July 13, 2013
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<div itemprop="description">Helene Kroeger (nee Penner) <br /> <br />After a brief illness, surrounded by family, our Mom peacefully slipped away from us on July 13, 2013 at the age of 82 years. From the moment of her illness to the time of her passing, her family never left her side. We take comfort in knowing that our Mom&rsquo;s warm, loving and fun spirit will live on in some way in the many lives of those she touched. <br /> <br />Helen Kroeger was amazing, not only for who she was- and the lives she touched &ndash; but also for her abilities and accomplishments she achieved during her lifetime as a loving and caring mother, an excellent educator, and later, an author of numerous books dealing with our family history and heritage. She started teaching at the tender age of 17 as a certificate teacher at a one room schoolhouse in Melrose, MB and from that experience, her 36 year teaching career began. At 26 years she married the love of her life, and went on to raise three active children with her husband Peter, further pursue her educational studies, getting her degree at the U of M- while working full time until her retirement at Pacific Junction in 1991. Family time was always of great importance and Mom and Dad gave us many wonderful opportunities to experience and travel during summer vacations. <br /> <br />Our Mom had incredible belief in the capabilities of her students, her children and her grandchildren. She kept in touch with many of her students over the years, and our family has heard from many of them during these past few days. <br /> <br />Besides being a teacher, Mom was also a lifelong learner. Mom avidly embraced technology and became quite familiar with her computer. Armed with this knowledge, she was also instrumental in connecting family roots that had been severed years earlier by her family's immigration to Canada. This love of family history and genealogy culminated in her writing books, several of which were published. <br /> <br />Mom was born on May 30, 1931, to Nickolai and Agatha Penner in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She was predeceased by her husband Peter, and brother Nicholas Penner. She leaves to mourn her children: Brenda (Dennis) Reimer, Howard (Jane) Kroeger, Conni (Alec Prystayko), and her grandchildren: Andrea (Dennis) Nowosad, Craig (Shannon) Reimer, Alexandra, Travis and Lucas Kroeger; Jessica Kroeger and Michael Prystayko; two sisters: Margaret Penner and Selma (Ross) Irwin, and one brother Alvin (Shirley) Penner. She is also survived by brothers' and sisters'-in-law; Eileen Penner, Helen Krahn, George and Katie Kroeger, Edwin Kroeger, Bill and Katie Enns, Eric and Hertha Martens, Henry and Selma Kroeger, Margaret Kroeger, John and Mavis Kroeger, Jake and Lynn Kroeger, Marion Johnson; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and close friends. <br /> <br />Special thanks to Dr. George and the wonderful compassionate staff of Nurses and Health Care Workers at the Grace, 3rd Floor S, who looked after Mom during her stay at the hospital. Your thoughtfulness and gentle handling of our Mother will never be forgotten. <br /> <br />A Memorial and viewing will be held between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 17 at Chapel Lawn Funeral Home, 4000 Portage Ave. The Funeral will take place at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, July 18 at First Mennonite Church, 922 Notre Dame Ave. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Grace Hospital Foundation, Seeds of Hope. <br /></div>