Ella Braitenbach
May 5, 1932 – May 30, 2024
Ella Braitenbach (nee Hoffman) died peacefully at Central Parkland Lodge in Lanigan, SK, on May 30, 2024.
Ella was born to Alexander & Rosa Hoffman on May 5th, 1932, at their farm at Daphne, SK. She was the youngest of 4 children. In later years she became a little put out that she had not been given a middle name, like her sister and 2 brothers. She concluded that by the 4th child, her parents just couldn't think of any more names.
Ella was a tomboy who liked to be outside, playing ball or tagging along with her brothers. She was especially close with her brother Albert, whom she said was her protector. She could be fearless when Albert was nearby.
Ella attended Clearview School until finishing the 8th grade. She wanted to attend high school, but that would have meant living in a boarding house in Spalding and only going home on weekends. She was not ready to leave her family, so she completed grades 9 & 10 by correspondence.
Ella loved music, singing and playing piano. At 16, while attending a wedding dance, she became mesmerized by the accordion music coming from the stage. She watched as the player's fingers flew over the keys & buttons. Eventually she raised her gaze above the accordion and fell in love with the handsome fellow playing it. His name was Irvine Braitenbach.
After a few years of courtship, Ella & Irvine were married Jan. 7, 1951. That marriage lasted 71 years, 5 months, 3 weeks, and 4 days.
Ella & Irvine made their home in Jansen, SK and in 1954 welcomed a son, Timothy. By the time he was 9 he had apparently not caused them enough trouble, so they felt the need for another child. In 1963, they adopted a 1-year-old girl and named her Shellee Rose. It was about this time that they moved to the Braitenbach family farm. Ella loved being a farm wife but did not confine herself to cooking & keeping house. She was happiest when she was out in the field, on a tractor or combine (before they had cabs).
In addition to farm work, Ella was also involved in church activities, the women's group, bible study, and of course singing in the church choir. She was often asked to sing at weddings, funerals, or other special events, either solo, or with her best friend & singing partner, Eva Elke. Their voices blended together beautifully.
When her children got older and needed less "supervision", Ella took a part-time job at the Jansen-Esk Credit Union. She claimed she was only hired because she could type, but it's quite likely that her sparkling personality was more impressive than her typing skills.
Ella's love of singing meant she was likely to break into song no matter where she was: doing housework, gardening, in the car, in the middle of Sears...! That seems sweet now, but if you were 12 and shopping with her, it was mortifying! But she would just laugh and sing slightly louder.
In 1980, Irvine & Ella retired to Lanigan where they made new friends and found more opportunities to play music, at the Lodge, Merry Mixers, fish fries, anywhere. And Ella was always open to trying new things. She learned clogging (like tap dancing but louder), her friend Zoila taught her to paint, and her brother Ben gave her his violin and she learned to play it quite well. They began spending their winters in Desert Hot Springs with Irvine's brother, and they took their instruments along to share their music down south.
As they grew older, they slowed down a bit, travelled less, but kept on making music. Even as dementia became debilitating for Ella, she never lost her beautiful singing voice. When Irvine passed, Central Parkland Lodge became Ella's home, along with her new family member, Rosy. Rosy is a Cabbage Patch doll that Ella became extremely attached to. Rosy was her baby and Ella took her everywhere. She loved her dearly and Rosy is travelling into eternity alongside Ella.
The marvelous caring staff would sing with her and became her extended family. The evening that Ella passed, as she was nearing the end, several of the staff were in her room singing to her through tears "You Are My Sunshine", which had become her favorite song.
The entire staff at the Lodge: kitchen, cleaning, laundry, nurses, recreation, volunteers; we, Ella's family, have a heartfelt message for you. Your kindness, your care, your concern, and your love were a blessing to Ella and a comfort to us knowing that our mother was so well cared for and loved. We so appreciate each and everyone of you. God's blessings on you all.
Ella was predeceased by her parents, Alex & Rosa Hoffman, brother Ben Hoffman, brother-in-law Ken Lanz, sister Adena (Edna) Lanz, brother Albert Hoffman, and her dear husband Irvine Braitenbach.
She is survived by her son Tim Braitenbach (Laurie Hanson), daughter Shellee Hogan (Brian), grandchildren Tyson Braitenbach, Jenelle Cooney (Jimmy Grewal), Kaleena Becker (Jesse), Ashlee Hogan (Marlon Harder), Catlin Hogan (Miranda Wood-Sparrow), and great grandchildren Isaac Becker, Sedric Becker, and Talia Grewal.
Mom, we love you, we miss you. But we are so happy for you, that you have been made whole, you are reunited with Dad, and you are both making music with the Lord.
A Funeral Service for Ella was held on Friday, June 7, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. from Trinity Lutheran Church in Lanigan. Interment followed at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery. Memorial donations in Ella’s memory may be directed to Central Parkland Lodge (Lanigan).
This notice placed courtesy of
Malinoski & Danyluik Funeral Home & Crematorium
Phone: 682-1622