Obituary
Katharina Zarbl
1936 - 2024
Katharina Zarbl (née Heinrichsdobler)
April 28, 1936-August 19, 2024
It is with heavy hearts we mourn the loss of our family matriarch who passed away at the age of 88 with the strength and courage that she showed throughout her entire life. She is predeceased by the love of her life Hermann Zarbl and her parents Maximilian Heinrichsdobler and Katharina (née Maier). She was the courageous mother of 8 children, Herbert (Gertraud), Helmut (Michèle), Ulrike (Alain), Hermann (Joanne), Real (Wendy), Shirley (Marc), Michael (Ly-Shu), and Christine (Stephen). She was also the extremely proud grandmother to 21 grandchildren, and18 great grandchildren. She was the big sister to Frieda, Maximilian, Hildegard, Siegfried, Ludwig, Ingrid, and Maria. She will be missed by many nieces and nephews.
Born in Oberindling Germany, her life began hard as the eldest child of 8 during World War II where her courage and strength began. As a young child she was sent away to work on farms and in a gästehaus in order to help her family financially after the tragedies and hardships the war had left behind. During this time, she worked hard milking and caring for cows and she learned to be an amazing cook. In 1952 at the age of 16, she met the love of her life Hermann, a handsome Austrian railroad locomotive apprentice and mechanic as well as a part-time musician, and it was love at first sight. They were married in 1953 in Austria, she was only 17. They started their large family beginning with 4 children in Austria. In 1958 her husband left for Canada to arrange a new life for them and after waiting for 3 months he sent for her. Her new life began in Canada where she learned English via a German-English dictionary that her newfound friend and neighbor Shirley Demers purchased. Her struggles were hard, but she endured with great strength and determination. She had 4 more children in Canada and gave all of herself to raising her family the best that she could, sacrificing her dreams of an education. On November 12, 2023, she and her beloved husband celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with a beautiful vow renewal surrounded by children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. The love and her happiness and pride filled the room. On January 30, 2024, she lost her love but with her forever enduring strength, she held on as long as she could for her family. It gives her family great comfort knowing she is now forever reunited with her one true love.
“Behind all your stories is always your mother’s story, because hers is where yours begins”-Mitch Albom
Please join us in celebrating her life.
Funeral service to be held on: September 20, 2024, at 11:00 a.m.
St. Thomas à Becket Parish
4320 Saint-Anne St.
Pierrefonds, Qc. H9H 4Y7
Burial to follow at: Cimetière Belvédère
22025 Trans-Canada Hwy
Senneville, Qc. H9X-0B2
Reception to follow at: St. Thomas à Becket Parish Hall
Funeral Details
Ceremony
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Funeral service followed by burial at Belvedere Cemetery and reception to follow at St. Thomas à Becket Parish Hall.
St. Thomas à Becket Parish 4320 Sainte-Anne St Pierrefonds, QC H9H 4Y7
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