Obituary for Sonja Elisabeth Schild
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our Mama and Oma, Sonja Elisabeth Schild on Thursday, June 15, 2023 at the age of 93. She died peacefully surrounded by her family at her home in Burnaby, BC. Sonja is survived by her three daughters: Linda Monica Schild (husband Robert Metz), Cate (Victoria) Korinth (husband Kai Korinth) and Christina Patricia Schild; her four grandchildren Mary Elisabeth Metz, Katherine Emily Metz, Maximillian Nelson Korinth and Liza (Sophie) Korinth, and her second cousin Elisabeth Michaela Scheifinger.
Sonja was born on October 24, 1929 to Matilde (neé Haberl) and Ernest Mayerhofer in Vienna, Austria. Sonja grew up in the small town of Grafenwörth before the family moved to nearby Vienna when she was school aged. During the war years however, the family retreated to Grafenwörth before returning to Vienna, where Sonja attend the Lehreranstalt from age 14 to 19 to become a teacher. After graduation, she worked as a primary school teacher with visually impaired children. It was during her time at the Lehrenanstalt that she met her husband, Maximilian (Max) Lambert Schild (1926-1979).
In the early 1950’s, Sonja and Max emigrated to Canada. They lived briefly in Montreal and Toronto, settling in Winnipeg for 20 years where Sonja attended the University of Manitoba and graduated at the age on 33, with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. All this while starting her family – she was a university student while pregnant with her first daughter, Linda. The family grew and moved a few more times, to San Francisco and then Vienna, until in the early 1970’s, they decided to move to the West Coast. Here the couple started the family business, Schild Construction, and they built their first house in Coquitlam, BC, which became the family home until 1988.
When Max died too young in 1979, Sonja, a strong woman and dedicated mother, raised her three young daughters on her own while single-handedly managing the family business. She completed the housing projects that were in progress at the time of Max’s death and built one more house from start to finish before exploring other careers. She dabbled in real estate, insurance, and sales until she found her true calling creating a highly successful series of educational workbooks for children focused on Canadian geography and history, which are still used in elementary classrooms today. Sonja moved to Burnaby, BC in 1989.
Sonja was a real dynamo – energetic, opinionated, liberal-minded, outgoing – who enjoyed a lively discussion, especially about controversial topics such as politics and culture. She also liked to laugh and joke about the small, silly things in life. Family was Sonja’s top priority and we always knew she was there to support us in whatever way she could. She was generous with her time and love.
Sonja had requested to be cremated and buried with her husband, Max, at Robinson Memorial Park Cemetery in Coquitlam, BC. A private family graveside service will be held; Sonja did not want a funeral service. A date for a gathering of family and friends will be confirmed soon. In lieu of flowers, Sonja had requested memorial trees be planted.
Sonja was born on October 24, 1929 to Matilde (neé Haberl) and Ernest Mayerhofer in Vienna, Austria. Sonja grew up in the small town of Grafenwörth before the family moved to nearby Vienna when she was school aged. During the war years however, the family retreated to Grafenwörth before returning to Vienna, where Sonja attend the Lehreranstalt from age 14 to 19 to become a teacher. After graduation, she worked as a primary school teacher with visually impaired children. It was during her time at the Lehrenanstalt that she met her husband, Maximilian (Max) Lambert Schild (1926-1979).
In the early 1950’s, Sonja and Max emigrated to Canada. They lived briefly in Montreal and Toronto, settling in Winnipeg for 20 years where Sonja attended the University of Manitoba and graduated at the age on 33, with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. All this while starting her family – she was a university student while pregnant with her first daughter, Linda. The family grew and moved a few more times, to San Francisco and then Vienna, until in the early 1970’s, they decided to move to the West Coast. Here the couple started the family business, Schild Construction, and they built their first house in Coquitlam, BC, which became the family home until 1988.
When Max died too young in 1979, Sonja, a strong woman and dedicated mother, raised her three young daughters on her own while single-handedly managing the family business. She completed the housing projects that were in progress at the time of Max’s death and built one more house from start to finish before exploring other careers. She dabbled in real estate, insurance, and sales until she found her true calling creating a highly successful series of educational workbooks for children focused on Canadian geography and history, which are still used in elementary classrooms today. Sonja moved to Burnaby, BC in 1989.
Sonja was a real dynamo – energetic, opinionated, liberal-minded, outgoing – who enjoyed a lively discussion, especially about controversial topics such as politics and culture. She also liked to laugh and joke about the small, silly things in life. Family was Sonja’s top priority and we always knew she was there to support us in whatever way she could. She was generous with her time and love.
Sonja had requested to be cremated and buried with her husband, Max, at Robinson Memorial Park Cemetery in Coquitlam, BC. A private family graveside service will be held; Sonja did not want a funeral service. A date for a gathering of family and friends will be confirmed soon. In lieu of flowers, Sonja had requested memorial trees be planted.