Adelaide Christina Adams

After a long life of service and generosity, Adelaide Christina Adams (Zerr) passed away peacefully on June 10, 2019. 

Adelaide (Adelhaide) was the first of three children born to William and Mary Zerr (Waltz) on October 23, 1919. Elementary schooling all received at Hohenloe School in the RM of Churchbridge Saskatchewan. Adelaide helped on the family farm until 1940 (age 21) when she moved to Winnipeg and was employed by the Gilbert Garnett family. Adelaide moved with the Garnett family to Vancouver in the autumn of 1940 and remained with them until 1942. She worked in a Vancouver bakery until the spring of 1943 when she returned home to help on the family farm. In the autumn of 1943, she went to Toronto and worked at the converted John Inglis factory, manufacturing Bren guns for the Canadian war effort. She was one of many who worked with "Ronnie the Bren Gun Girl". As WWII wound down in February of 1945 and the factory workers were beginning to be laid off, she worked in a Toronto laundry and sewing factory until June of that year at which time she, again, returned home to keep house for her brother Robert. In November of 1947 she married George Adams and the couple successfully operated a mixed farming operation in the RM of Churchbridge for 32 years. They had two sons (Wayne and Kenneth). Adelaide and George built a house in Langenburg and retired there in 1979. The couple remained active by being involved in the local senior’s dance community and delivering meals on wheels. Adelaide was involved in fund raising activities at the Langenburg Centennial Care Home making dolls and woven Christmas ornaments. You always knew that the ones she made for her family had just that little bit more love sewn in each piece. Each one of her grandchildren had an afghan that she made – you got to pick the color and Grandma did the work. She always had a very productive vegetable and flower garden, but her pride and joy were her roses. Adelaide and the Catholic Women’s League ladies provided flowers for services at St. Joseph’s RC Church for many years. Adelaide belonged to the Langenburg New Horizons Seniors group, where she would often go to play cards on a Friday evening.

Adelaide loved to bake, and her family could hardly wait for Christmas. She made each one a special box full of Christmas goodies - the best shortbread cookies in all the Christmas shapes, chocolate chip cookies, whole wheat buns, and for Jeannette and Kathy her Christmas fruit cake. We waited for her cabbage rolls and her fruit perogies as there was no one who could make them better.

 Adelaide loved her family and enjoyed spending time with them when they came to visit. She is predeceased by her husband George and her five brothers (Henry Mitschke, Joseph Mitschke, William Mitschke, Leo Zerr, Robert Zerr) and three sisters (Mary Fuhr nee Mitschke, Bertha Heckel, nee Mitschke, Alma Pratt, nee Mitschke). She is survived by her sons Wayne (Jeannette) and Kenneth (Kathy), grandchildren Boyce, Steven (Heather), Jamie (Vance Webb), Neil (Lisa) and Lee (Wes), along with great grandchildren Hayden, Nolan and Jacob. She is also survived by sisters-in-law Jeanette (Bob), Connie (Leo) and her many nieces and nephews. 

Many thanks to the staff and volunteers at the Langenburg Centennial Special Care Home for their commitment, professionalism and words of kindness during Adelaide’s stay.