NEL HENTELEFF
April 14, 1927
- February 2, 2015
Death
came quietly to Nel during her afternoon nap on Monday, February 2, 2015. Born
in Amsterdam April 14, 1927 she came to Winnipeg in 1953 for a one-year
research lab position at the Medical College. There she met Paul. September 1,
1954 they entered a 60 year loving marriage. Grieving now are Paul; five
children, Jacob (Cobber), Marke, Sybil, Harry, Alexandra and their spouses; ten
grandchildren and three great grandchildren. One daughter, Saskia died in 1990.
Nel
was a very active person. She loved raising her children and the many family
activities. When the children were older gardening became a passion. She
volunteered with a number of community organizations including Winnipeg Horticultural
Society (president), Manitoba Regional Lily Society, Manitoba Chamber
Orchestra and St. Boniface Hospital Women's Auxiliary. She was a lifelong
learner (university courses) and a voracious reader. She stimulated her
children to follow the example.
Nel
always pointed us in new and exciting directions; a camping trip across Canada
with six children under the age of 12; then four years later “the Trip” - a
camping trip for 22 months across Europe and North Africa. At Nel’s urging, Paul changed his career to
become medical director of palliative care at St. Boniface Hospital, the
highlight of his career. It was Nel’s idea to move to an acreage in 1981, “the
Willows” where they shared their passion for gardening and then again to move
to Victoria Crescent (2001), to continue gardening on a smaller scale. In 2011
Nel recognized the possible challenges in future independence and they moved to
Fred Douglas Place (gardening was downsized to indoor bulbs!)
The
last year of life was challenging due to health problems and drastic loss of
mobility. Death came as a shock for us but as a peaceful release for Nel. She
was particularly grateful through the years to Drs. Jack Hildes, P.Mehta,
C. Bourque and P. Nemeth, physiotherapist Mary Eaton and more recently home care
helpers Carmen, Muriel and Tess.
We
bid adieu to a radiant woman: wife, mother, grandmother…She asked bold
questions and had demanding standards of behaviour. Her faith moved restlessly
between worshipful adoration and theological discontent.
Nel's
Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, February 14, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. in St.
John's Anglican Cathedral, 135 Anderson Avenue with The Very Rev. Paul N. Johnson,
presider.
In
lieu of flowers, out of compassion for the hungry, and conscious of Nel's
experience of the 1944-45 "hunger winter" under Nazi occupation of
Holland, please donate to the Canadian Food Grains Bank or to Winnipeg Harvest.
Wojcik’s Funeral Chapels & Crematorium, 2157 Portage
Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada 204.897.4665, is in care of arrangements.
wojciksfuneralchapel.com
Wojcik’s
FUNERAL CHAPEL & CREMATORIUM
2157 PORTAGE AVENUE
204 - 897 - 4665
www.wojciksfuneralchapel.com
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