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Carolina Gaberdiel
September 5, 1913 - February 24, 2016
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<div itemprop="description">GABERDIEL, KAROLINA ANN &ldquo;Ohma&rdquo; <br />1913 - 2016 <br /> <br />Born on September 5, 1913 in Heidelberg Germany, Ohma passed away peacefully at Rosewood Villa, Fort Macleod on February 24, 2016. Karolina (Lina) is survived by her two daughters, Irene Belenczuk of Calgary and Margarette (Steve) Karasz of Fort Macleod, as well as her sister Ida Hupp of Stuttgart, Germany. <br /> <br />Karolina was predeceased by her parents Karolina Hohedl and her stepfather Ehrenreich Lange, as well as her husband Hans in 1969, her son Edwin Gaberdiel and her daughter and son-in-law Penny and Alec Nagy and son in law Mike Belenczuk. Ohma was also predeceased by her granddaughter Margarete Wollbaum. <br /> <br />Ohma enjoyed many things in her long life including the Rocky Mountains, the Alps, knitting, music, Turner Classic Movie Channel, and the candy aisle in Wal-Mart. Occasionally she also liked to dig in her German heels and force Steve and Alec to build the deck and stairs exactly the way she wanted them. She was a gracious woman who extended hospitality to all and judged no one. <br /> <br />Karolina was born and raised in Germany and married Hans Gaberdiel in 1936. They immigrated to Alberta after the war to raise their family. After living in Alberta and British Columbia, she settled in Fort Macleod for her many last years of life. <br /> <br />Ohma&rsquo;s family will always be proud of her for her love and graciousness and yet her fierce independence. Some of the stories that marked Ohma's unique impact in the world and on people around her require investigation due to the fact that Ohma never really grasped how much of an impact she had and how truly remarkable she was. At the end of the war she found the bust of a statue of Hitler and wrapped it in a blanket, carried it 3 kms and threw it off a bridge into the Nekkar river. Yet, probably the most powerful thing she did during the war years (other than throwing Hitler off a bridge) is a little talked about event that happened while Ohpa was away at war. For two months Karolina hid a young Jewish family in her attic. Numerous German families who were no fans of the SS took enormous risks like this. Most spoke little about it due to the lasting fear that post war repercussions would follow them, and Ohma was no different. Her secrets in life were found in the deep and impacting ways she would forsake being passive in order to reach out and help people who desperately needed it and often with great risk in doing it. She had a soft spot for the rebels as well. One of her favorite sayings was &quot;hold your head high even if your neck is dirty&quot;. <br /> <br />She would have said however that her greatness, if there was some, was found in the love she had for her family, and her warm welcome of all who she came across. Ohma was dearly loved and will be greatly missed. <br /> <br />She is survived by numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. <br /> <br />A celebration of life service will be held on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 at LEYDEN&rsquo;S CHAPEL OF REMEMBRANCE (corner of 17th Avenue &amp; 2nd Street SW, Calgary) with Pastor Doug Priestap officiating. Interment to follow at St. Mary&rsquo;s Cemetery in Calgary. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Karolina&rsquo;s name to the Fort Macleod Handi-bus Society. <br /> <br />Schlaf gut Ohma, wir leiben dich. <br /> <br /> <br /></div>