Meta Fritz

1921 ~ 2015

Meta Fritz (nee Steuer) died in her home with loved ones by her side on March 9, 2015. She was 93.

Meta was born on April 3, 1921 in Schoenwalde, Kreis Graudenz, Marienwerder Preussen (West Prussia) to Friedrich and Amanda Steuer (nee Eschner) as the fifth of six children in a family displaced by events of World War 1. When she was nine years old the family bought a farm in Hermenhagen, East Prussia; this was the home Meta always talked about and yearned for. 1945 brought flight, capture and time in Vorkuta, a Siberian prison camp. Eventually released to West Germany, Meta was reunited with her sweetheart Otto, whom she married in Bielefeld, in 1948. After starting a family under difficult postwar conditions they were able to immigrate to Canada with their girls in 1955. They settled in Lethbridge where they raised the family, including the addition of a son, and built a masonry construction business together. Always active Christians they found spiritual homes, first in Bethany Baptist Church and then Park Meadows Baptist Church. To the last days of her life Meta was able to sing the song ""God Is So Good To Me"".

Meta is survived by three daughters, one son and their spouses: Doris (Almut) and Denis Chalifoux of Spruce Grove and their children Julian and Simona; Sigrid Fritz and Jim Savage of Stony Plain; Karol Fritz and Rick Dembicki of Calgary and their children Lisa and Jared; Al and Karen Fritz of Lethbridge and their children Jenny (husband Matt and son Isaac), Josh and Dustin.

She is predeceased in 2006 by her husband, Otto.

A service commemorating Meta's life will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, March 14, 2015 at Park Meadows Baptist Church, 2011 - 15th Avenue North, Lethbridge, Pastors Barry Seifert and Lorne Willms presiding.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to “Park Meadows Baptist Church” indicating “Kenya Mission” on the memo line, donations will be to support the Oloika Pentecostal Church in Kenya, 2011 - 15th Avenue North, Lethbridge, AB T1H 5J4.