Hilda Klein (Schneider) Life Through the Years

Born Hildegard Anna Schneider December 30, 1930 in Karlsruhe, West Germany, Hilda was the youngest of 5 children, who have all predeceased her.

Hilda was 9 years old when the Second World War broke out in 1939. Due to her young age the government provided safety locations in Alsace /Lorraine with other families. The children were transported to, housed, fed and schooled for up to 4 weeks or more at a time. She was moved several times as the front got closer to each area. The longest stay was in Muhlhausen, near the German-Swiss border.

As she got older, she returned home and lived with her father. Her mother had been sick with leukemia and was taken to Baden, Baden, a safe nearby town, where she died October 3, 1944. Her siblings had all been conscripted in the war effort.

Not long after her mother’s death, the war front moved closer to Karlsruhe. December 4, 1944 their house was bombed and destroyed. She escaped to the north, to Berlin, where her oldest brother’s wife lived. As the war came to a close, the Russians moved in on Eastern Germany, including Berlin, the capital.

Once again, she was on the move, back to Karlsruhe to live in the bombed-out basement of their home. Her father had been taken prisoner and was held in the center square of Karlsruhe. With the help of neighbours and her own resilience, she managed to hang on in the darkest of times. In 1945 the war ended. She was 15 years old and had lost most of her childhood.

Her father had survived the war and the two were reunited. Awaiting news from the rest of her siblings was tormenting. Some had serious injuries. Thankfully, all of her siblings made it back to Karlsruhe.

The years following the war were tough: occupation by the Russians and Americans, lack of food and work instability. Times were austere, and with it came the crash of German monetary system, and the new Demark.

She found herself working in a factory, helping to make ends meet. Past times were spent in competitive kayaking on the Rhine River and skiing in the Black Forest. Life started to become more normal.

In 1950 due to a freak accident, her father was killed by a truck driver who had sustained an eye injury during the war and didn’t see the man riding the bike beside his vehicle. She went into a spiral of depression.

Many families with German ancestry were returning to Germany from the Balkans and former Yugoslavia. Along with them was the Klein family and their eldest son, Friedrich. The two met at the factory and the rest is history.

They were married on June 12, 1951. Finding it difficult to get a start in post-war Germany, they decided to emigrate to Canada and build a new life together. They had added their names to lists posted for work in Canada whereby the employer would pay their passage. They had both gotten their notice, and said good byes to family and friends on their wedding day.

The very next day they boarded the train for Genoa, Italy where the ship bound for Canada was harboured. This was a huge undertaking… another move… Their honeymoon was spent on board the S.S. Atlantic, which docked 3 weeks later in Halifax. A long train ride took them to Prescott on the outskirts of Ottawa. They worked in harvest, picking apples and in a glove factory during the winter.

After two years of work, they were able to repay their passage and had learned enough conversational English at night school. Fred had picked up additional work experience repairing cars at a nearby garage.

As many immigrants did, they moved south, to Windsor, where Fred also had cousins. He was a licensed mechanic and hoped to find work in the auto industry. That became a reality. He worked for Chrysler Canada for 32 years.

Hilda worked at Ford in the Automotive Trim Plant for a year and later on at Green Giant. They first lived with family, renting a room, until they had enough money for a down payment on a house.

Their first of five children was born in 1954 – Elisabeth; followed by Beverly-1955, Teresa-1956, David 1958 and Tommy in 1962. It was a busy and challenging life raising 5 children, so close in age, especially in the early years with no Social Security, and no income in times of lay-offs.

Hilda was resourceful, saving pennies, growing vegetables and fruit from the bountiful garden. Homemade was a way of life. As her children matured, her family grew to include sons-in-law, daughter-in-law, 6 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

Grands and greats are: Katherine Dwight, Brandon, Manitoba; Alexandra Casselman, Edmonton, Alberta; Jonathan (Rachelle) Abbott of Calgary, Alberta, who have Colton, Jayda and Nolan; Sarah (Ryan) Taylor of St. Thomas, who have Jack and Charlie; Joshua Klein, Windsor, and Tabitha Klein- Shawol of Essex, with Hazel.

Hilda enjoyed nothing more than having family to cook for. Many holidays were celebrated around her table where family enjoyed traditional German dishes, including her famous Gulash with red cabbage.

Fred had built 3 homes-2 in Windsor and 1 in the rural area of River Canard. Moving became a normal event. With his retirement in 1984, the couple eventually moved to Kingsville in 1986. After battling Colon cancer and Melanoma, Fred died on June 27, 1993, leaving Hilda a widow for over 30 years.

Independent, relying on church friends, her faith, and a long friendship with Julie Fabok, she lived contently, sold the family home, and moved to a town house. Julie and Hilda often travelled together. Her most memorable trip was at age 80 to Israel.

Mom’s Hilda’s interests:

– always in cooking and having her family together

– sewing out of necessity in the early years…sewing most of the clothing her children wore.

– gardening, especially the flower and rose gardens.

– Kayaking, which she still enjoyed into her 80’s

– Nature and wildlife outdoors

Faith, Hope and Love had kept Hilda through the glorious and through the trying years. Faith was embraced by Hilda, beginning with water baptism, 1953 in Windsor. Her life journey centered on believing in a forgiving God, who provided salvation through Christ’s death, empowering her to live life in and by the Holy Spirit.

She was a member of Harrow Baptist Church for almost 40 years. The love and support she gained there, gave her strength to see life span past the daily grind, past the concerns and work of the day, to an eternal hope. A thread in Hilda’s life is picking up, leaving all behind and moving to the new and unknown. Mom, Hilda often said, “I am just a Pilgrim, passing through.”

At age 94 she saw her last earthly move to Chartwell Senior Residence, now Venvi, in Kingsville. This, now by her death, is the final move. Yes, out of body, to the heavenly realm. She is HOME!

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Kendrick Funeral Home, 91 Division Street South, Kingsville, ON. Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 13, 2025 from 10:30 a.m. until the funeral service will begin at 11:30 a.m. A private family interment to follow at Greenhill Cemetery, Mill Street, Kingsville.

Donations may be made in memory of Hilda to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, 1200-2300 Younge St. Box 2414, Toronto, ON M4P 1E4; or to the Canadian Cancer Society, 500 – 55 St. Clair Ave W., Toronto, ON M4V 2Y7; or to the Harrow Baptist Church, Box 721, Harrow, ON N0R 1G0.

To leave a condolence or share a memory please visit www.Kendrickfuneralhome.com
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Events

Visitation

Thursday, November 13, 2025
10:30 am – 11:30 am

Kendrick Funeral Home – Kingsville
91 Division St. S. Kingsville, ON N9Y 1P5
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