Hartmann, Ines Anna Marie

October. 19, 1932 – June 14, 2021

Smart, Strong, Kind – Our beloved mum and Oma, Ines Anna Marie Hartmann passed away peacefully at Kootenay Lake Hospital in Nelson, on June 14, 2021.

Born in Eich, Germany in 1932, at 21 she boarded a ship to Canada, where her soon to be husband Eric, was waiting in Vancouver. Married to Eric for 68 years, together they created a truly beautiful life together.

She was a true matriarch, who cared deeply for her family and friends. Ines made things happen. She was the driving force behind years of summer camping adventures, the purchase of two ski cabins in Whistler, raising an active young family in Burnaby and then in retirement, making the big move from Coquitlam to Nelson in 1997. What an amazing and full life she had, always keen for an adventure, or to learn something new. She enjoyed skiing, both cross-country and downhill, coaching field hockey, and she could perform a mean cartwheel!

Her green thumb was the envy of many.

Later in life, Ines and Eric travelled and cruised extensively from Russia, to Iceland, to South America. She was a busy volunteer at the Nelson Museum and Art Gallery for many years, plus an amazing host to a multitude of visitors from around the world. Oma’s German baking, scrumptious jams, pickles and vinegar are legendary. She loved her tea, or coffee visits with friends, regular phone and FaceTime catch ups, working in her stunning gardens, puzzling and staying on top of current events. She loved a good book, and more recently, Netflix. Ines was an incredibly social person, and this past year was a struggle, but she stayed engaged and busy in her life and the lives of those she cared about right to her last day.

Oma instilled a proud sense of tradition and ancestry in all of us, including magical Christmas and Easter celebrations. Her legacy lives on proudly in three generations – son Frank (Ruth), daughters Peggy Aitken (Paul Lamoureux), and Sandra Bird (Mark), son Roger (Darlene); grandchildren Natasha (Jason), Brett (Maryann), Mat (Leigh-Ann), Danielle (Michael), Zach, Spencer; great grandchildren Mason, Elodie, Eric, Marshall, Dane, Ryan, Lehwren, Georgia, Blake, Jacob.

Ines, Mum, Oma – You were a force of nature and life. You will be missed by us all.

Donations in memory of Ines may be made to the Kootenay Lake Hospital Foundation. We will have a celebration of her life at a later date.