April 23, 2020
1941-2020 ~ On April 23rd, 2020, Beate Kuhn passed away peacefully after a fierce battle with ALS. Beate was greatly loved by her children: Mark (Simone) Kuhn, Stephen (Debbie) Kuhn and Michelle (Rob) Berg. She is also survived by her adored grandchildren: Reece, Josephine, Jesse, Maggie, Tayler and Mattias; as well as her brothers: Ernst (Hannelore) Ulrich and Gunter (Jutta) Ulrich.
Beate was born in Recklinghausen, Germany in 1941, to Ella and Helmut Ulrich, and moved to Canada in 1960 to join her fiancé, Egon Kuhn, in Victoria, B.C. Beate and Egon enjoyed being in a new country, and explored as much as they could, from multiple kayaking and ski trips, to months-long camping trips, to many memorable family holidays with close friends.
In 1980, the family moved from Victoria to Nanaimo, and Beate soon started working at Snip & Stitch Fabrics, where her teenage apprenticeship in window dressing created elegant displays, and her love of sewing and fine fabrics meant a family beautifully dressed in her creations.
When the family moved to Parksville in 1993, Beate's passion for gardening and photography flourished. Beate quickly became an active member and an executive for many years with the Eagle Crest Garden Club. With Egon's help, over the years Beate turned their yard into an oasis which eventually won her an award for the best garden in Parksville & Qualicum. Beate was never without a camera in hand and her children and grandchildren are slowly working their way through the thousands of pictures in her archives.
Beate lived her life with grace, dignity, and style. She welcomed everyone into her home and always had cake and coffee on hand. She offered gardening tips to anyone that asked (and many who did not) and always dispensed good advice. Her favourite stories were about her grandchildren and how much joy and laughter they brought to her life.
Immigrating to a new country with only her husband, Beate's friends became her extended family. The Marquardts, the Raps, the Kidds, and the Petremans were lifelong friends. Her photography companion Diane Spence, as well as her monthly lunch ladies (Katrina Isaak-Graham, Irene Brooks, Joanne Hamilton and Barbara Svarich), plus her many, many friends in Victoria, Nanaimo, and Parksville-Qualicum were all cherished Beate will be greatly missed by so many. She was a very special woman, and those who knew and loved her will deeply feel her passing.
Due to these unprecedented times, a service will be held at a later date, when we can gather family and friends for a celebration of Beate's life.
Yates Memorial Services
250.248.5859
"Lives Cherished and Celebrated"