Obituary of Brenda Carolyn Rauch

June 1, 1932 – April 1, 2021

 

It is with very heavy hearts we announce the passing of our Mother, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother, Brenda Rauch. 

Mom was no stranger to working hard. She would tell us stories about when her Dad logged with horses. It was her and her sister’s job (at the ages of 6 and 7) to jump on those horses at the end of the day with a rope around their necks as a halter and take them down to the river to drink. She had a huge garden when we were growing up (and long after we left home) and always turned her fall bounty into jams, jellies, syrups, and pickles for us to enjoy all winter. She claims to have hated cooking, but she was an amazing cook (other than when she decided we needed to eat liver and onions or tried to pass off beef tongue as “a nice roast”).

Mom had a deep love for swimming and made sure we took swimming lessons every summer and spent many days at the beach with us – it was not uncommon for her to swim the ‘buoys’ several times a day. Walking and taking in nature was another passion of hers. I wouldn’t even want to try to figure out how many miles she logged walking around the lake or climbing the ridge in the 50 years she lived in Wasa. We always had a family ski pass at Kimberley right up until we graduated from High School. We spent many weekends and evenings there – if she wasn’t skiing, she was driving us to Kimberley and picking us up at the end of the day.

Brenda volunteered for every event in Wasa, made treats and served tea at every Community Tea, and worked many Pancake Breakfasts cooking eggs. When we were young, she was also working at completing her Teaching degree. She had obtained a Teaching Certificate when she left high school, and had taught until Scott was born. She went to Victoria for summer school and got her degree. When Lisa was in grade 7, she started teaching full time for the Kimberley School District.  Brenda taught Kindergarten to Grade 3 in Wasa, and her classroom was always a hub of activity.  She made sure every single student knew how to read before they left her for the higher grades.

Family was her greatest passion. We were lucky enough to grow up in such a fun place, and had visits from grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins every summer. We would also head to Kelowna every year to spend time with our grandparents and other family who lived there. We were very geographically spread out, so these are some of our fondest childhood memories.

Thank you Mom for modelling and passing along these important attributes to us.  Your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren are a testament to you.

Special thanks to her Doctor of many years Dr. Helena Buchar and the wonderful staff who work in the St. Mary’s neighbourhood of Joseph’s Creek in Cranbrook. We were very thankful for the love, dignity, and compassion you treated Mom with. Mom was able to stay in her home in Wasa for a long as she did due to the incredible people who live there.  Going for walks to the mailbox with Mom, taking her grocery shopping, sitting and having a cup of tea, or dropping off meals. These acts of selflessness were not unnoticed and very much appreciated.

She leaves to mourn her children Scott (Sophia) Rauch, Kent (Debbie) Rauch, Lisa (Dave) Hiebert, grandchildren Derek (Sanchia) Rauch, Danny (Dianna) Rauch, Brianne (Memphis) Vondracek, Cameron (Jordyn) Osterhold, Jordan (Megan) Osterhold, and great grandchildren Chase, Micah, Elise, and Bethany.  Brenda also leaves her sisters Patsy Kyle, Judy Stringer, Chrissie (Bob) Park, and many other family members and friends. Although the loss is indescribable, we were fortunate to have her for so many years.  Mom is now with our Dad.

Immediate family will be putting Brenda in her final resting place at the Wasa & District Historical Association Memorial Gardens, reuniting her with Dad. We will hold a Celebration of Life in the summer, Covid permitting.  Anyone wishing to can donate to The Wasa Lake Historical Society or the Wasa Lions Club Scholarship Fund in her memory.

Mom, we love you and will miss you always – Enjoy your heavenly dances with Dad

Arrangements entrusted to McPherson Funeral Services.

Condolences for the family can be offered at:

www.mcphersonfh.com