Genovefa Koechling (nee Zehnpfenning)

Zehnpfenning, Genovefa Anna Matilda
Born March 8th, 1934 in Muenster, West Germany
“Geno” beloved wife of Gustav Hubert Koechling
Passed away Peacefully in her sleep on April 2nd, 2018 in Montreal, Canada at the age of 84

Born in pre-war Germany the daughter of Franz Zehnpfenning and Genovefa Kochs she grew up during a difficult time in history.

She was the second youngest surviving child and raised her youngest brother Julius whom she had a deep attachment to, unfortunately he died in an automobile accident in his twenties leaving her the youngest to her brothers Helmut, Kurt and Oscar. During her early years she also worked in the clothes washing business the family owned.

In 1956 she met a young man “Gustav” and after a brief courtship period they got married in 1957 in Germany and that same year they emigrated to Montreal, Canada via a sea voyage.

A dedicated stay at home mother to her children, she was a delicate and sensitive soul that enjoyed cooking, reading, and especially summer trips to the cottage in the Laurentian Mountains that she and her husband had built together. She loved to swim in the crystal-clear waters of Lac Winnetou and have kaffee und Kuchen with all the other German neighbors.
Among her hobbies she was very talented at the art of sewing, crocheting, needle work and knitting and created many family heirloom pieces.

In her latter years she took up line dancing at the local senior’s club which she was very fond of. Travelling was also an important part of her life and she enjoyed frequent winter trips to Florida among the many other places she visited during her lifetime

She is survived by her husband of 61 years Gustav in Montreal and her daughter Roswitha in California and her son Ralf in Calgary and by her grandchildren in California, Cory, Troy, Shoshana and numerous extended family members living in Germany.

The family would like to thank the staff at Mount Sinai Hospital for taking such good and kind care of her during the last three years of her life.