While surrounded by loving family, Mrs. Leokadia Schwengler passed away at Drayton Valley Hospital and Care Centre on the evening of Thursday, January 16, 2020 at the age of 93 years.
Leokadia Haberling Schwengler was born on December 2, 1926 in Dudnikowo, Ukraine. She was the third of four children born to Heinrich and Katharina Haberling. Leokadia survived the Holodomor and the Second World War before arriving in Germany as a refugee in 1945. She lived and worked in Hamburg after the war and that's where she met her future husband Adam Schwengler. After they married in 1950, they moved to Bongard, Germany where they had their first two children.
In 1954, they emigrated to Camrose, Alberta where they had 4 more children. They purchased a quarter of land in the Alder Flats area in the mid 1960s and moved there permanently a couple of years later. They eventually purchased more land and a grazing lease and became full time farmers. Their seventh child was born soon after they moved to Alder Flats. On the farm, they built the home Leokadia lived in until just before she passed away.
Leokadia was an inspiration to all who were touched by her kindness and her cheerful manner. She loved her family, her books, her garden and her greenhouse. Her amazing life story was captured in her autobiography "Walking to Freedom" in 2014.
Leokadia was predeceased by her husband Adam, her parents and two siblings Roland and Dora. She is survived by her sister Klara, her children Paul (Debby), Roswitha (Neil), Roland, Ernie (Janet), Monika (Robert), Walter (Arleen) and Kathy (Jim), 16 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.
A Funeral Service was held at Alder Flats Community Centre on Thursday, January 23, 2020, with interment at Alder Flats Cemetery.
For those who so desire, memorial donations in Leokadia's honour may be made directly to Drayton Valley Health Services Foundation's Palliative Care Campaign, 4550 Madsen Avenue, Drayton Valley, Alberta T7A 1N8 or to STARS, 1441 Aviation Park NE, Box 570, Calgary, Alberta T2E 8M7.
Condolences may be sent to www.affinityfuneralservice.ca. Arrangements in care of Joelle Valliere and Colleen Sekura at:
Affinity Funeral Service, 5137 50 Avenue, Drayton Valley, Alberta
780.542.3338
Affinity Funeral Service