Obituary of Elsie Heinrichs

To watch the livestream of Elsie's service click

https://youtube.com/live/eUBKpATNP6E?feature=share

A celebration of the life of Elsie Heinrichs will take place on Saturday, April 20 at 11:00AM at Nutana Park Mennonite Church 1701 Ruth St E.

Much loved, Elsie is missed by her daughter Debra (Stan Bartel), son Bob (Judy Hill Heinrichs), daughter Jennifer, special niece Trish St. Onge (Marcel), grandchildren Sara Bartel (Ryan Currie), Jeffrey Heinrichs (Elizabeth Schowalter), Mark Heinrichs (Rachel Wise), great grandson Wesley Heinrichs and special grand-nephews Joseph (Amelie Fitzgerald-Garant), Anthony and Kristian St. Onge. Elsie is also mourned by sister-in-law Audrey Gullickson (Gary), brother in-law Clif Heinrichs (Terri), cousin Martha Epp and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. Elsie was predeceased by her husband Wes, and seven siblings.

Elsie was born on April 16, 1933 in Herschel, Saskatchewan to Bernhard and Margarethe (Fast) Sawatzky. She spent her early years in Herschel, moving to Altona, Manitoba in 1944. Elsie enrolled in Rosthern Junior College in grade 12 where she met her best friend and husband Wes.

After graduating from high school, Elsie attended Provincial Normal School in Winnipeg, earning a Teacher's Certificate in 1952. She commenced her primary school teaching career in Altona, soon moving to Saskatoon to join Wes and continue teaching at Caswell School. Elsie and Wes married in 1955 and Elsie's focus turned to raising her young family. After a 23 year hiatus from teaching she became an instructor of English as a Second Language. Over 14 years, she welcomed students from all over the world to her classroom, making a huge impact in the lives of many new Canadians.

Elsie's garden was legendary with its beautiful flowers, bountiful vegetable patch and Saskatchewan Roughrider gnome standing guard. Her kitchen was a place of shared laughter and love.

Family was everything to Elsie and she will be sorely missed.

If desired, donations in Elsie’s memory may be made to the Wes & Elsie Heinrichs Family Fund at the Saskatoon Community Foundation,101 – 308 Fourth Ave. North, Saskatoon, SK, S7K 2L7 or RJC High School, 410 6 Ave, Rosthern, Saskatchewan, SOK 3R0.

For those unable to attend the service, the family invites you to join the service via livestream.