PIROSKA “PAT” SCHAEPE

After a short but courageous battle with brain cancer, our wife, mother, and oma passed away peacefully on February 11th, 2025, at Victoria Hospital. 

She is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Werner Schaepe; her son Robert; and two grandchildren, Konrad, and Katarina Schaepe of Winnipeg; as well as her niece Marietta of Calgary; and extended family in Hungary. She is predeceased by her parents; her brothers, Steve, Willy, Joe, and Frank; along with her older sister Shari.

Mom was born in Gyor, Hungary in April 1940 and was the youngest growing up in a poor family. In 1956, at the age of sixteen, she fled Hungary with her sister during the revolution, eventually finding her way to Winnipeg in 1959. 

It was in Winnipeg that she met another immigrant from Germany (Werner) in 1960 who would become the one and only love of her life, my dad. After a whirlwind romance, they married on October 21st, 1961. Together they overcame language barriers in a new country and worked hard to build a beautiful life in Winnipeg, Canada, where they would live their lives together. 

Living and settling in Winnipeg after their marriage, mom and dad formed close friendships with many people in Winnipeg. These close friendships fostered a strong community of a tight knit group that they would spend Christmas dinners with hosted by mom and dad and other family friends. The summers took them out to twin beaches, where they parked their trailer for over 40 years. The good times and parties my parents shared with close family friends were memories that lasted a lifetime. As the group of friends became their adopted family of sorts, they were all people mom and dad cherished very much. 

In later years mom and dad enjoyed their retirement traveling to Arizona, Hawaii, and Palm Springs, and enjoying the great memories made in those places. But mom’s biggest love were her grandchildren, Konrad and Katarina, who came in 2001 and 2004. To Oma they were always her “babies.” 

Mom’s hobbies included her love of flowers, gardening, watching birds visit her bird feeder and crocheting newborn baby caps that she would donate to maternity wards in Winnipeg. 

She was a loving and devoted wife to her husband Werner, but at the same time was strong and determined when she wanted to be. Mom gave so much of herself and asked for so little in return. She loved to cook for her family, and if cooking was an expression of love, then love knows no bounds!

Mom, 

I will miss our morning coffee chats over the phone before I headed to work, as I know you enjoyed them too. 

You gave us all your unwavering love and support and for that we are all so grateful. 

You lived a full life, mom, 

and now it is time to rest.

This is not goodbye but see you soon,

with all our love,

Werner, Robert, Konrad, and Katarina

A big heartfelt thank you to all the nurses at Victoria hospital on 5 north who took care of mom with professionalism and respect. A celebration of life in memory of Piroska will take place in the early summer.

Pat’s family kindly requests that all of her friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour her memory by sharing photos, memories, and stories, using the comment section on this page.

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ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

530 St. Mary Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

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