ELIZABETH OSTLERE

With love and loss in our hearts we honour the long life (103) of our mother, grandmother and great-grandmother Elizabeth Ostlere (née Segal). Elizabeth was born in Winnipeg on April 5, 1923 to Anna and John, Ukrainian immigrants from the Ternopil Oblast. She is predeceased by her parents; three brothers, Joe, Louis and Walter; her youngest son, David; her grandson, Lee; and her husband, Gordon. Elizabeth grew up on Lorette Ave.. She attended Earl Grey and Kelvin High School, graduating in 1938.

She met her handsome husband Gordon, dressed in his Air Force uniform, on September 2, 1946, at the Labour Day Dance at the Winnipeg Auditorium. Ten days later he asked her to marry him! They married on June 12, 1948 at Trinity Baptist Church in Fort Rouge.

Elizabeth and Gord lived in Calgary, RCAF Station MacDonald, Hamilton, RCAF Base Trenton, with a final move back to Winnipeg in 1965. In 1958, Elizabeth had her first rigorous test as an Air Force wife when she and Gord packed up two kids, a baby and drove thousands of kilometres - everyone getting sick on the way - and finally arrived in Hamilton to find that their military home was not ready. Undeterred, Elizabeth borrowed money and they bought their first home on West 33rd Street. Elizabeth was a fiery wife and Gord adored her completely. She liked to link her arm to his as if she didn’t want to lose him.

Elizabeth was a devoted and passionate mother of four: Deborah Nielsen (Ole), Kerry (Debbie), Cathy and David (Sarah Heald). She is remembered as a woman of strong convictions who never wavered from her position. She taught her children to love language and conversation and encouraged higher education.

Her trademark blond hair, often in an up-do, and her beautifully polished nails made her a striking figure though she is probably best remembered for her laugh and excellent storytelling. She enjoyed puzzles, playing cards, especially bridge, and hosting mahjong games. She loved to cook, camp with her family in their trailer, fish, and travel to see friends in Arizona, Hawaii and Western Canada. Her favourite trip was to England to visit with David and Sarah, two years before they disappeared while sailing on the Atlantic in 1995.

Elizabeth was a funny and entertaining grandmother to Kyle (Jen), Tim (Danielle) and Kris (Amber); Mark and Peter (Ashley); and Victoria (Grant), David and Tegan. Her grandchildren describe her as kind, patient, regal (like the Queen), wickedly funny and laughing about everything with an infectious energy that’s perhaps best described as “spunky”. They appreciated her as an elder in their lives and didn’t mind the late-night calls to talk about the latest Jets or Bomber game. Going to Grandma’s always included a search for Viva Puffs and her question: “Are you hungry, are you thirsty? Go get yourself a 7-Up and bring me one too.” The favourite memory is how her face lit up when a grandchild came to visit.

Elizabeth was thrilled to have seven great-grandchildren: Brooklynn, Cora, and Taylor Ostlere; Isla and Bo Sceney; Connor and Myles Ostlere. This past summer, she joyfully was able to see them all together. She loved receiving their drawings, art, cards and crafts. Visits with great-grandma included checking out the fish and two budgies and looking for a box of chocolates in one of her drawers.

Elizabeth went through life making dear, lifelong friends everywhere she lived. Her engaging manner reached out to strangers as well. Because she didn’t drive, bus rides became a place for friendly conversations and stories that she brought home. She loved to talk especially to her children’s friends. The Ostlere home in Fort Richmond was often filled with teenagers. Everyone was welcome at the dining room table.

Elizabeth stayed in her home after Gordon’s death until she moved into the Extendicare Tuxedo Villa at the age of 95. She befriended the staff and the residents with her humour, her gift of conversation and her love of sports. The Jets and Bombers had no greater or older fan. In her last years, Elizabeth enjoyed a wonderful friendship with her roommate Joanna Wilson.

Special thanks to all the staff at Tuxedo Villa. Your care of Elizabeth was warm, kind and respectful. Her life was made happy by each and every one of you.

Elizabeth will be missed by her entire family including her special niece, Sharon Barnett, and nephew Marshall Sagal; her friends and former neighbours, Bev Taggart and Angela McDonald; and Tim Whyte, Jeff Lodge, Gail Henry and Laurie Thompson.

In the words of one of her friends, 

We lost a giant.

A Celebration of Life will take place next spring in Winnipeg. Details will follow later. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Siloam Mission in Winnipeg. www.siloam.ca

​

ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

1833 Portage Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

​