Roswitha Denz, (nee Haevernick)
JUNE 11, 1934 – JULY 8, 2015
Our dearest Muttie, passed away unexpectedly at the Cowichan hospital on July 8, 2015.?Roswitha was born June 11, 1934, in Kassel, Germany to Doris (nee Von Nathusius) and Borwin Haevernick. She came to Duncan in 1957 to join her sister Oda and brother in law Horst Nowrath to help them with their young family and growing business. Her sister introduced her to Rolf Denz, and they were married in 1958. That year they bought the house that she lived in to her last days.
Roswitha and Rolf had a beautiful garden and she cultivated a broad knowledge of local plants and birds. She loved nature and was a longtime member of the hiking club. Rose enjoyed local history volunteering at the Cowichan Valley Museum. She was an avid reader and besides German literature her favourites were The Natural History of BC, and the Canadian History Magazine. She believed in the art of letter writing.
Besides raising her family Rose worked as a homemaker and was known for her gentle touch. Her family remembers her simple and delicious home cooked meals.?She was an aficionado of art history and encouraged a love of the arts in all her progeny. She belonged to the Crofton Art Group particularly enjoyed printmaking.
Roswitha’s greatest passion was music. She remembered her choir days fondly, regularly attended the symphony at the Cowichan Theatre. She enjoyed opera with her daughter Sylvia and more recently broadcasts of the Met. Her favourite composers were Mozart and Bach and she loved to hear her grandchildren play piano.
Roswitha enjoyed travel. She and Rolf travelled in Europe, New Zealand, throughout BC and Canada. Most recently she went to Mexico with Sylvia.?Though Roswitha was very practical, she was someone who moved in a world a few steps away from the mundane. She was known for her witty observations.
Rose is predeceased by daughter Doris 1967, brother Oskar 1998, husband Rolf 2011, niece Cordula Vogt, 2012. She will be greatly missed by Beate Denz (Joe Benge) Stefanie Denz(Lindsay MacQueen) Sylvia Denz (Denis Bridger), grandchildren Eamon, Aulden, Frieda and Ella Macqueen Denz, Thea and Maya Bridger Denz, sister Oda (Horst Nowrath) brother Konrad Haevernick, niece and god daughter Gwen(Phil Mladenov), nephew Bernard Nowrath (Wendy), Borwin Haevernick(Brigitte Bagus), Roland Haevernick (Juliane Spatz) and Albrecht Haevernick. The funeral will take place at Trinity Lutheran Church Duncan BC July 16, 1:30pm
In lieu of flowers make donations to the Duncan Basket Society, or Cowichan Estuary Centre http://www.cowichanestuary.ca