DUNSCHEDE, Dietgard
June 10, 1941 – May 24, 2022
We are heart-broken to announce that on May 24th, our beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother began a new journey. As she unfurls her wings, we know Didi will find the peace she needs after her long battle with cancer.
Didi will be very missed by the countless people whose hearts she touched with her endless kindness, thoughtfulness and care. She valued her friendships tremendously and was always eager to talk and listen to all.
Didi came to Canada as a child and settled in Niagara on the Lake, before ending up in Toronto. She met her future husband Harald at the age of 15 in the church youth group and they ended up sharing 66 years together, with 60+ years of marriage. During this time they relocated to Peterborough, built a cottage together, bought 100 acres of wilderness and built a storybook homestead on it.
Her incredible work ethic made her an amazing mother and homemaker, student (she graduated top of her class at Sir Sandford Fleming College as a mature student) and executive assistant at Ventra Plastics from where she retired. She was good at everything she did, and there was nothing Didi couldn’t do – beautiful paintings, crocheting, sewing, gardening and cooking – boy, could she cook! With her curious and inquisitive nature, she embraced all of the adventures of raising a family, living in the country and building a homestead, travelling and being engaged in her community during her 47 years in Bailieboro with Harald.
Didi was committed to her community – she volunteered for so many things. From the Parent/Teacher Council, to fundraiser committees for her children’s schools, to Harmony United Church as a secretary to bringing meals to friends in need and the less fortunate Didi was generous with her time and her love.
She was an inspiring mother to Dirk Dunschede (Kari Dunschede) and Marion (Dunschede) Willemsen (Rick Willemsen), a proud grandmother of four grandchildren; Natasha Willemsen, Julian Willemsen, Tristan Dunschede and Avia Dunschede; and great-grandmother to Noven Willemsen. She is survived by her sister Anne Hudson and loving husband, Harald Dunschede.
A small Celebration of Life will be held on June 11th to honour this remarkable woman whose influence was felt by so many.