Mrs. Katinka Magda Dorrance, age 92 years, a resident at Sister Leila Greco Apartments, passed away at the Thunder Bay Regional Hospital on July 25, 2015.
She was born in Hamburg, Germany on June 10, 1923, and lived through the turbulence of Hitler's regime during World War Two. After a period of nurse training with the Red Cross, she was discharged to care for her mother. While attempting to continue her education in Vienna in 1943, she met Rudolf Helbig, an alpine troop officer on medical leave. They were married as soon as the required administrative paperwork could be completed. The war soon put an end to their honeymoon when Rudolf was shipped to Yugoslavia. He died there before having the opportunity to meet the daughter he had fathered.
Katinka and her daughter, Gisela, immigrated to Canada in 1953. She married Ed Dorrance, a Southern Ontario farmer, in the Seaforth area. They spent 35 years together working side by side. Because of her experiences with post-war starvation, Katinka loved being in the business of producing food. She was less enthusiastic about dealing with large livestock, who always seemed to be able to get their way with her.
Ed and Katinka sold the farm and retired to Goderich. After Ed died in 1989, Katinka followed her adventurous spirit west, and lived in Weyburn and Regina in Saskatchewan, followed by 12 years in Victoria, BC. She continued to travel as much as she could. She especially enjoyed road trips with her daughter and grandchildren.
Katinka was a creative innovator, always pushing to do things her own unique way. She loved to try new and different experiences. One of her most-quoted mottos was, "I will try any wine once."
She sang at every opportunity to keep her spirits up, even if those around her did not share her enthusiasm. She was respected for being a hard worker and good cook. She excelled in knitting, sewing, and embroidery. She was an avid reader all her life, and liked to discuss what she was learning. She started painting in her later years, and continued to experiment with various media into her nineties.
Katinka's departure will leave a jagged hole in the hearts of her daughter Christine Richardson (aka Gisela), her grandchildren Andrew and Elizabeth, and her great-grands Kestrel, Wren and Emma. She will be missed by her network of friends across Canada, and by her cousin Jorg Baur and other relatives in Germany. She has gone to rejoin her mother Christine Kuehner and baby brother Knut as well as her son-in-law Doug Richardson and others too numerous to mention.
Christine and family are grateful for Katinka's long, rich life and for the excellent medical care which made it possible. A special thank you for the perseverance, compassion and positive vibes of the stroke team.
A memorial service will be held in Schreiber, Ontario at a later date. Memorial donations to the St. Thomas' Anglican Church Family Giving Centre (1400 Edward St. S., Thunder Bay, ON P7E 2J6), or another local food bank, would carry on Katinka's mission to feed the hungry. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the EVEREST FUNERAL CHAPEL, 299 Waverley St. at Algoma.
