Ruth Louse (Reisel) Castelsky
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother. Ruth passed away peacefully on June 29th at the Nanaimo Regional Hospital after a short illness.
Ruth was born December 7, 1925 to Adolf Reisel and Ida Reisel Geborne Grundman in Kaiserswaldau Schlesien Poland. Her early schooling was in Petersdorf and business school in Hirshberg. In her early war years, Ruth undertook a number of jobs ranging from nanny to housekeeper to secretary. It was a difficult time, especially dealing with the advancing Russians.
Ruth grew up in a family with five brothers, Otto, Herman (died as a baby), Hans, Ernest (died in the war) and Lothar. All brothers predeceased Ruth, with Hans passing earlier this year just prior to his 100th birthday.
In 1948, Ruth married the love of her life, Wolfgang (Bill) Castelsky. As was not uncommon at the time, the couple struggled to make a life in Hamburg and subsequently emigrated to Manitoba, Canada in 1953. In 1956, Ruth and Wolfgang moved to Port Alberni to raise their family.
Ruth had aspirations of being a business owner, which went largely unfulfilled. She worked as a server at the Barclay Hotel and as a housekeeper at a local motel. She finally satisfied her entrepreneurial aspirations by working at the European Delicatessen for 25 years. Although she didn’t own the business, she treated it as her own.
Ruth spent many years actively involved in the Port Alberni Europa Club with emphasis on the annual Oktoberfest Celebration and many club activities. Ruth knew her way around a kitchen and provided her family with many favourite dishes which will be greatly missed.
Ruth is survived by her sons Joachim and his wife Chris of Casa Grande, Arizona and Roy and his partner Sharon Tomkins of Nanaimo, BC and daughter Diana Erickson and her husband Randy of Sointula, BC. Ruth has eight grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
Given the current health pandemic, a celebration of life will be deferred to a later date.
Memorial donations in memory of Ruth may be sent to the Heart and Stroke Foundation at Suite #200 - 885 Dunsmuir Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 1N5
Lives Cherished and Celebrated