Brigitte Ursula Woehl

GOOD NIGHT MOM… 

Brigitte (Gitta) Ursula Regina Woehl (Gothier)   March 2, 1926 – April 20, 2021

Peacefully at Vision Nursing Home, in Sarnia, Ontario on Tuesday, April 20, 2021, Brigitte passed away at the age of 95.  Survived by her son Edward Carson Pierre Woehl, daughter Janine Michele Kirby (Woehl), son-in-law D. John Kirby, and her “sister” of 75 years Ursula Plenz. Pre-deceased by her husband, Edward Albert Woehl, her parents, Adolf Gotheir and Gertrude Maria Gothier (Weber), and brother, Rudolf Adolf Sylvester Gothier. 

Brigitte was born in Berlin, Germany, married in 1950 and moved to Canada in 1951. Brigitte started her family in Port Arthur/Fort William (now Thunder Bay), where she and Edward settled because of the post-war German community established there. They made, gathered and maintained life-long friends with Irene and Peter Fitterer, Tony and Uschi Rogalla, Christa and Mike Korotki, Gerda Sundermann, and others. In the early 60’s she moved her family to Toronto where she worked as a lab technologist at Baycrest Hospital and later, Mount Sinai Hospital.  At Baycrest she met her other “sister”, Sheila Proctor and at Mount Sinai, special friends Roger Dassin and Nuala Zeilinski. 

Brigitte loved languages (she spoke 5), philosophy, ballet, classical and opera music. She was a great cook and an accomplished seamstress. 

Family was a priority for Brigitte. At age 82 she moved from her Toronto home of 50 years to Point Edward in 2007 to be closer to her son, daughter and son-in-law. She blessed her children by writing and sharing her many stories of her early life in Germany.  Reading these stories with her provided great comfort and refreshed treasured memories during the challenging times of her failing health. Despite the ravages of dementia, she was able to demonstrate her love and care for her family until her final rest. 

She lived a good, full and caring life. She never lost her spirit. She will find her words again. 

We wish to acknowledge the amazing staff at Vision Nursing Home, whose professionalism and kindness helped us through this difficult time. Also, a big thank you to the wonderful staff at the Alzheimer’s Society of Sarnia/Lambton and the numerous caregivers who worked with mom over the years to the present! Cremation has taken place and a celebration of her life will be planned at a later date (when COVID allows).