Obituary of Christel Katharina Schunicht

Christel Katharina Schunicht, born February 25, 1937 in Wanne-Eickel, Germany, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at 11:24 am at the South Health Campus Hospital in Calgary, Alberta.

She is predeceased by her husband, Karl, who passed away in February, 2020.  She is survived by 6 children - Kristin Renger, Karla Thiessen (Danny), Oliver Schunicht, Silvia Schunicht, Sonia Martin (Mike), and Volker Schunicht; 10 grandchildren - Nicole (Trevor), Cody, David (Amanda), Kimberly, Jeffery, Jessica, Dawson, Emily, Jonah and Annika; and 7 great-grandchildren - Aubry, Wyatt, Cali, Brant, Tyce, Sydney and Priscilla.  Christel is also survived by her sister-in-law Caecilia Rath (nee Schunicht).

Christel grew up as an only child with loving parents.  She married the love of her life, Karl, in 1963 and shortly thereafter immigrated to Canada from Germany.  They bought a farm near Rockyford, Alberta, built a house, and raised a family of 6 children. Christel and Karl also took care of her parents who immigrated to Canada in 1964. In 1994, Christel and Karl retired from farming, and moved the family home from the farm to an acreage near Bragg Creek, Alberta.

Christel found true joy in the many little things in life and had an incredibly positive outlook.  She was a very creative person who loved to paint using various materials and on different types of surfaces, including raw hide and burlap.  She loved fashion and sewing, which likely stemmed from the tailoring business her parents owned, and took great pride in making something unique.  She also loved to garden and had a keen eye for landscape design.   She loved to listen and dance to German music, which she would often engage her grandchildren in.  She especially loved entertaining family and friends at their home, which was, of course, always perfectly decorated for the appropriate occasion, right down to every tea towel being ironed!  Christel and Karl collaborated on designing and making all types of meaningful artwork which they enjoyed giving to churches, family and friends, with each piece having a personal touch for the recipient.

She made Canada her earthly home but her eternal home is now with God, and right beside her beloved husband, Karl. May she Rest In Peace.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, February 2, 2024 at St. Rita’s Catholic Church, Rockyford, Alberta at 11:00 am.  Interment at St. Rita's Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made directly to a charity of your choice.