ELKE HEIDEMANN

Elke Heidemann (née Borgmann) passed away suddenly on November 2, 2024, at St. Joseph's Health Centre in Toronto, due to complications following surgery. Elke was born in Münster, Germany, on January 27, 1939, as the eldest child of Gerda (1912-2005) and Werner (1911-2006) Borgmann. She was predeceased by her brother, Hartmut (1940-2003), and sister, Heidi (1941-2007). Elke spent her early years amidst the ravages of World War II in Germany. As the Iron Curtain descended on eastern Germany, she immigrated to Canada with her parents and siblings in the 1950s. Elke attended Toronto's Parkdale Collegiate and went on to earn her master's degree in modern languages at the University of Toronto, as well as an education degree, which started her off on her career as a teacher. She married Gerd Heidemann and taught French and German at Oakville-Trafalgar Collegiate well into the 1990s. Having separated from her husband in 1984, she joined the family of her widowed friend, Elsa Miller (1939-2022) (John), with whom she lived until Elsa's passing. For over six decades, Elke enjoyed spending summers at the cottage that her father built on Loon Call Lake in the Kawarthas, which is where family and friends spent many treasured moments with her. Elke was a fervent nature lover, and for some time shared her home with a small flock of birds. Her passion for art, architecture and all the cultures of the globe led her on many international voyages; notably, her three-year around-the-world honeymoon with Gerd by means of a VW campervan and a pair of motorcycles, and trips with Elsa to Central America, Europe, Indonesia and Japan. She is mourned by Hartmut's daughters, Cheryl (Wes) and Kristy (Jeff); their mother, June Borgmann; Heidi's son, Andreas (Gina); Elsa's children, Michelle (Dan) and Greg (Kelly); as well as all of their children, and many friends and former colleagues, including Christa Conrad and Heidy Peragine. A celebration of life for Elke and Elsa is being planned for the spring of 2025. For more information, please contact: eande.celebration.of.life@gmail.com.