Margaret Prietz
Margaret Prietz (nee Kuehnemann died on December 29th 2013 in her 98th year, proud and loving mother of Sabine Swierenga (Harold) of Salt Spring Island and Tina Prietz (Doug Jemmett) of Huntsville,ON. She will be sadly missed by her grandchildren Stephan Swierenga (Natalie McMaster) of Ottawa, Heidi Swierenga (Tom Baker) of Vancouver, Charlie and Peter Jemmett of Huntsville and her great-grandchildren Cathy, Hayden, Jacob, and Kieran Swierenga of Ottawa, and Sidney and Sebastian Swierenga of Vancouver, and her sister Eva Borgstroem of Lund, Sweden. She was predeceased by her son Rainer in 1959 and her husband Dr. Hans Prietz in 1997.
Margaret trained as a dietician in Hamburg, married her childhood sweetheart in 1939, and survived the horrific war and post-war years with two toddlers. The family immigrated to Canada in 1952 after the birth of her third child. At 55 Margaret went back to school, earning a Fine Arts Diploma from Sheridan College in Oakville ON.
Margaret and Hanno moved to Salt Spring Island in 1992, where she built a pottery studio and spent many happy hours with her craft and her students. In 2012 island children were enchanted with her ceramic crèche Christmas display in the new library. She had a wonderful knack for connecting with people, creating long lasting friendships. Margaret kept diaries all her life from which she wrote a wonderful memoir that has become a lasting legacy for her family. She will always be remembered for her encouraging positive attitude to life and her strength in getting through the dark times. We will miss her very much.
The family would like to thank the dedicated staff of the Lady Minto Extended Care Unit and in particular we are grateful for the loving and compassionate care provided by Kathy Geldart, who made such a difference to Margaret’s last years.
Donations in Margaret’s memory may be made to her favourite charity, World Vision.