Jan. 9, 1923 – Feb. 2, 2011
Charlotte Eichstadt passed away peacefully into the presence of her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, on Feb. 2, at the Glenwood Care Home. She was born in Potsdam, Germany, during difficult times. During her teens, she had to get up very early to prepare food for workers using only a wood stove. She also worked in a food distribution firm, doing the bookkeeping and driving a truck with a double clutch. This was quite an unusual accomplishment for a woman at this time. She also took nurses’ training and worked in a children’s hospital.
She chose to follow the Lord at the age of 12. She loved going to church and singing in the choir which was directed by her father. She met Werner Eichstadt in the Baptist church in Essen during nurses’ training. They were married June 3, 1950. In 1952, they emigrated to Canada and moved to Chilliwack. They joined the Victoria Avenue Baptist Church and continued to attend this church (now Chilliwack Baptist) until a few years ago. They had very little but Charlotte was an excellent homemaker. In the early years, Revenue Canada audited them because it seemed impossible that they could be living on the small income that the Eichstadts had declared, but she showed them her vegetable garden and explained that soup bones were free.
Their son, Ullrich (Oly) was born in 1954. She was a wonderfully kind and loving mother. She continued to serve in the church, teaching Sunday School, playing piano and organ, and visiting the sick. She taught music lessons and was a member of the Chilliwack Music Teachers’ Association. She loved flowers and was overwhelmed with the beauty of God’s creation. In 1973, the family moved to Ryder Lake, where she continued to garden and enjoy the beauty of nature.
She was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. She leaves behind her devoted husband of 60 years, Werner, her son and daughter-in-law, Oly and Doris, and grandsons, David and Matthew. Charlotte will be remembered for her strong faith in Christ, her kind and gentle nature, her warm and generous heart and unconditional love for her family. The family is very grateful to the staff at Glenwood Care Home for their wonderful care and compassion.
A service to honour and celebrate Charlotte’s life will be held at 2:30 on Saturday, Feb. 12, at the Chilliwack Baptist Church on First Avenue. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to North American Baptist Missions.