Obituary for Ursula Ella Hackenbeck
HACKENBECK, Ursula
1930 - 2023
Farewell my dear family, friends, and neighbors. It is not customary to write one’s own obituary, but I did. The following is a very condensed journey of my life here on earth. I was born on April 11, 1930, in Prussia (Ostpreussen) Germany. I had a happy and carefree life on my dear parent’s farm with my younger sister, Helga. It was here that my parents taught me the values, ethics, and morals of life. At age 14, my life changed dramatically, and my family and I were forced to leave our beloved home, all our possessions and all our livestock and pets to fend for themselves. With my father suddenly called to serve his country, my mother, sister and I traveled many miles accompanied by hunger, hardship, gunfire, and seeing people dying before our eyes. We were one of the lucky ones to escape the Russian Army and eventually arrived by freighter in Denmark. There we became prisoners of war. We were alive, but our new home was a camp with barracks enclosed by barbed wire. I was able to return to Germany on my own, as the hardship of the war had eased somewhat (not the best move I’ve ever made). But life as I knew it was gone and so was my dear homeland, Prussia. I not only felt like a stranger in my new surroundings, but adding a failed marriage to it, my love for Germany had lost its depth. I decided to start a new life for my dear little son, who was two years old, and myself. Consequently, we both immigrated to Canada in 1957, and I never looked back. For more than 27 years, I enjoyed the most rewarding work in the Educational Department at Michener Centre. After 30 years, I retired from teaching but stayed involved with various other activities at the Centre for almost 10 more years. Thank you, Canada, for allowing me to be your citizen. My second rewarding pleasure now was working in my flower garden, helping my neighbors if help was needed, and taking care of animals that were neglected. But now my eyes and hands are tired. My heart is heavy knowing that I must leave you all, but I am happy to say thank you, dear Siegmar, for having given me meaning and a purpose for my life here on earth. Take care! Janelle, it has been a pleasure to have had you as my granddaughter. Ava and Jackson, I love you with all my heart. I adore you and I’m so happy that I lived long enough to meet you. Thank you, Helga, for having been my loving sister. I loved you and Ron and your family very much. A BIG thank you to all my dear and caring friends and neighbors. God be with you until we meet again! Life and death are parts of the same great adventure. Do not fear to die and do not shrink from the joy of life. Ursula leaves to mourn her son, Siegmar Hackenbeck; her granddaughter, Janelle (Kurt) Spady and her great grandchildren, Jackson, and Ava Spady; her nephew, Steven (Anne) Gallant; her niece, Karen (Roger) Millette; and her many great nieces and a great nephew. Ursula was predeceased by her father and mother, Willy and Ella Blessmann, and her sister, Helga (Ron) Gallant. Special thank you to the nurses and staff at The Hamlets at Red Deer for their wonderful care of Ursula. A Funeral in Ursula’s honor will be held at Parkland Funeral Home, 6287 – 67 A Street (Taylor Drive), Red Deer, Alberta on Friday, February 3, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. with a reception to follow. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Ursula’s life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Whisker Rescue Society of Alberta, Box 27138, Red Deer, Alberta T4N 6X8 or to the Central Alberta Humane Society, 4505 - 77 Street, Red Deer, Alberta, T4P 2J1. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed at www.parklandfuneralhome.com. Arrangements in care of Parkland Funeral Home and Crematorium, 6287 – 67 A Street (Taylor Drive), Red Deer. 403.340.4040.
1930 - 2023
Farewell my dear family, friends, and neighbors. It is not customary to write one’s own obituary, but I did. The following is a very condensed journey of my life here on earth. I was born on April 11, 1930, in Prussia (Ostpreussen) Germany. I had a happy and carefree life on my dear parent’s farm with my younger sister, Helga. It was here that my parents taught me the values, ethics, and morals of life. At age 14, my life changed dramatically, and my family and I were forced to leave our beloved home, all our possessions and all our livestock and pets to fend for themselves. With my father suddenly called to serve his country, my mother, sister and I traveled many miles accompanied by hunger, hardship, gunfire, and seeing people dying before our eyes. We were one of the lucky ones to escape the Russian Army and eventually arrived by freighter in Denmark. There we became prisoners of war. We were alive, but our new home was a camp with barracks enclosed by barbed wire. I was able to return to Germany on my own, as the hardship of the war had eased somewhat (not the best move I’ve ever made). But life as I knew it was gone and so was my dear homeland, Prussia. I not only felt like a stranger in my new surroundings, but adding a failed marriage to it, my love for Germany had lost its depth. I decided to start a new life for my dear little son, who was two years old, and myself. Consequently, we both immigrated to Canada in 1957, and I never looked back. For more than 27 years, I enjoyed the most rewarding work in the Educational Department at Michener Centre. After 30 years, I retired from teaching but stayed involved with various other activities at the Centre for almost 10 more years. Thank you, Canada, for allowing me to be your citizen. My second rewarding pleasure now was working in my flower garden, helping my neighbors if help was needed, and taking care of animals that were neglected. But now my eyes and hands are tired. My heart is heavy knowing that I must leave you all, but I am happy to say thank you, dear Siegmar, for having given me meaning and a purpose for my life here on earth. Take care! Janelle, it has been a pleasure to have had you as my granddaughter. Ava and Jackson, I love you with all my heart. I adore you and I’m so happy that I lived long enough to meet you. Thank you, Helga, for having been my loving sister. I loved you and Ron and your family very much. A BIG thank you to all my dear and caring friends and neighbors. God be with you until we meet again! Life and death are parts of the same great adventure. Do not fear to die and do not shrink from the joy of life. Ursula leaves to mourn her son, Siegmar Hackenbeck; her granddaughter, Janelle (Kurt) Spady and her great grandchildren, Jackson, and Ava Spady; her nephew, Steven (Anne) Gallant; her niece, Karen (Roger) Millette; and her many great nieces and a great nephew. Ursula was predeceased by her father and mother, Willy and Ella Blessmann, and her sister, Helga (Ron) Gallant. Special thank you to the nurses and staff at The Hamlets at Red Deer for their wonderful care of Ursula. A Funeral in Ursula’s honor will be held at Parkland Funeral Home, 6287 – 67 A Street (Taylor Drive), Red Deer, Alberta on Friday, February 3, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. with a reception to follow. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Ursula’s life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Whisker Rescue Society of Alberta, Box 27138, Red Deer, Alberta T4N 6X8 or to the Central Alberta Humane Society, 4505 - 77 Street, Red Deer, Alberta, T4P 2J1. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed at www.parklandfuneralhome.com. Arrangements in care of Parkland Funeral Home and Crematorium, 6287 – 67 A Street (Taylor Drive), Red Deer. 403.340.4040.