Obituary

October 3, 1937 – January 14, 2022

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our mom, Adeline Riehl (Schwartz) of Penticton, BC at the age of 84 years.

Mom obtained her registered nurse diploma in Dauphin, MB in 1958.  She worked most of her nursing at the Dauphin General Hospital in several different roles as a Public Health Nurse,  General Duty Nurse, Director of Inservice Education, Director of Nursing, and Assistant Executive Director until her retirement in 1992.

Mom and dad (Clarence “Coots” Riehl) then retired to Okanagan Falls, BC to be closer to mom’s parents and siblings. She continued to work in the health care field until she was 65.

Mom touched many lives in her 84 years.  A former co-worker described mom very well.

“Your mom was my teacher in Nursing school, and one of the nurses I admired and strived to emulate throughout my career.  She was one of the first women I knew who worked full time and raised a family.  I asked her once if she thought her kids (you guys) lost out because she worked.  She said, “ I make sure they don’t.”  She had an amazing career that spanned the breadth of nursing.  She was a wife, a mother, nurse mentor, an inspiration, and an administrator.  Kind, and gentle nurse.  You were blessed to have her.”

“Her contributions at the Dauphin General Hospital were huge.”

We never did miss out on anything.  Mom was right.  She made sure we didn’t.  She was beautiful inside and out.  We will all miss here dearly.  She enjoyed her family, her work, spending time at the cabin at Benyk’s Point, her flower garden, gardening, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, curling and fishing. She is predeceased by her husband Clarence “Coots” Riehl, her parents Magdalena and Alexander Schwartz, her sister Della and her brother Dennis.

She is survived by her three daughters, Jacqueline Riehl  (John Warencyia) of Grande Cache, AB, Gerri Ann Riehl -Bandur (Mitchell Bandur) of North Battleford, SK, Kerri Lou Riehl (Roger Pilon) of Dauphin, MB, her cherished companion Victor Protasenko, ( Summerland, BC), and  sister Lois Schwartz (Yakima, Washington). She will be sorrowfully missed by her family, extended family, her grandchildren, relatives, friends, neighbors, the car club community in Summerland and anyone she knew.

We would like to extend our gratitude to the staff and medical staff and the Penticton General hospital for the care mom received and to the Kettle Valley Memorial Home in Penticton for their kindness, compassion and empathy during a very difficult time for our family.

Cremation has taken place as per mom’s wishes.  A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.

Should friends or family so desire, donations in her memory, can be made to the Dauphin General Hospital Foundation  c/o Dauphin Regional Health Center at 625 Third St. SW in Dauphin, MB R7N 1R7.  Phone: (204) 638-2200 or info@dghf.ca