Obituary for Louise Schweyer
(Ella) Louise Schweyer
August 7, 1937 – January 31, 2023
Ella Louise Corman was born in Dunnville Ontario to parents Florence and Harold Corman. She was named after her grandmother, but once she went to school, decided to drop the “Ella” and go by Louise. Her parents were shocked when the teacher used the wrong name!
Louise went to high school in Hagersville, where she lived with her parents in the apartment above the Bank of Commerce. Her father was the bank manager at the time. On her way to school one day, not feeling well, she met a young man named Harvey Schweyer, son of a local farming family, who felt sorry for her and walked her to school to make sure she was okay. He had just moved to the high school in Hagersville for grade 12 and before long, they fell in love. They were married in 1958.
After high school, and while Harvey was in the RCAF, Louise attended Business College while her best friend Florine attended Teachers College, and they lived with Louise’s parents in Hamilton. Louise worked as an administrative assistant/secretary/receptionist in several place over the years – most often with United Churches.
Louise and Harvey lived in an apartment on the Lakeshore in Toronto until after their first child was born – Debra Louise – then out of the back of their car with a new baby, while travelling all over the northeast US. Harvey was taking a series of training courses for his new job with Sperry and Louise and the other wives were keeping things going with their small children in cheap motel rooms. She was able to look back and tell great stories about those days.
They moved back to Canada and bought a home in Brampton, then after their second child was born – Paul Robert – moved to Willowdale (north part of Toronto). There Louise got involved in community activities and the beginnings of Hillcrest United Church. At Hillcrest UC, Louise and Harvey were active on committees and with many activities and made fast friendships. Louise and her friends from Sunday School teaching and Explorers – Eleanor, Mary Jean, and Doreen – remained lifelong friends, supporting each other through many moves and changes. Their “meetings” always included lots of laughter.
In 1992 Louise and Harvey moved to Calgary where both their children and partners, then 2 grandchildren – Emma and Karl - lived. They were very happy to be present when their grandson Karl came into the world and to share in celebrations with both grandchildren.
After Harvey’s father became ill, they moved back to Ontario, and into a condo in Mount Hope where they quickly made more great friends – at Twenty Place, Marshall Memorial United Church, the local skating rink, etc. They lived in their home at Twenty Place for 25 years, and shared many happy hours with their great friends there.
In 2021, Louise and Harvey moved to Winnipeg to be closer to Debra and Dave. They moved to The Westhaven, and even though pandemic restrictions made it difficult to meet everyone they made great friends there as well. Louise loved spending time with the Winnipeg part of the family, and especially loved getting to know her great-grandsons Logan and Xavier.
Louise was a great seamstress, making most of her own and her kids clothes for many years. She did beautiful needlepoint, and knitted afghans for everyone in the family! She was also a great baker, and known in our family for her “frugality”. We used to call her mother the “Queen of Cheap”…. It passes from generation to generation!
Over their 65+ years together, Louise and Harvey had many adventures and made many deep and lasting friendships – through work, through sailing, through community and Church activities, through RVing – especially as members of SKP’s (Escapees!). They particularly loved travelling around the entire coast of Mexico with friends Ken and Jean. Wherever they were, there were often gatherings in or around their home/sailboat/trailer/motorhome… full of love and laughter and friends, and a little wine!
Louise – wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, mother-in law (to Dave and Susan), sister, aunt, friend – will be much missed for her laughter, her hospitality, her ability to connect with others, her willingness to offer her time and energy.
She is survived by loving husband Harvey, children; Debra and partner Dave, Paul and partner Susan, grandchildren; Emma and partner Jon, their children, Logan and Xavier, and Karl and partner Katy. Also remembering her fondly are brothers/sisters - in law Harold (Joanne), David (Carolyn), Jim, and Patricia, and numerous nieces and nephews.
August 7, 1937 – January 31, 2023
Ella Louise Corman was born in Dunnville Ontario to parents Florence and Harold Corman. She was named after her grandmother, but once she went to school, decided to drop the “Ella” and go by Louise. Her parents were shocked when the teacher used the wrong name!
Louise went to high school in Hagersville, where she lived with her parents in the apartment above the Bank of Commerce. Her father was the bank manager at the time. On her way to school one day, not feeling well, she met a young man named Harvey Schweyer, son of a local farming family, who felt sorry for her and walked her to school to make sure she was okay. He had just moved to the high school in Hagersville for grade 12 and before long, they fell in love. They were married in 1958.
After high school, and while Harvey was in the RCAF, Louise attended Business College while her best friend Florine attended Teachers College, and they lived with Louise’s parents in Hamilton. Louise worked as an administrative assistant/secretary/receptionist in several place over the years – most often with United Churches.
Louise and Harvey lived in an apartment on the Lakeshore in Toronto until after their first child was born – Debra Louise – then out of the back of their car with a new baby, while travelling all over the northeast US. Harvey was taking a series of training courses for his new job with Sperry and Louise and the other wives were keeping things going with their small children in cheap motel rooms. She was able to look back and tell great stories about those days.
They moved back to Canada and bought a home in Brampton, then after their second child was born – Paul Robert – moved to Willowdale (north part of Toronto). There Louise got involved in community activities and the beginnings of Hillcrest United Church. At Hillcrest UC, Louise and Harvey were active on committees and with many activities and made fast friendships. Louise and her friends from Sunday School teaching and Explorers – Eleanor, Mary Jean, and Doreen – remained lifelong friends, supporting each other through many moves and changes. Their “meetings” always included lots of laughter.
In 1992 Louise and Harvey moved to Calgary where both their children and partners, then 2 grandchildren – Emma and Karl - lived. They were very happy to be present when their grandson Karl came into the world and to share in celebrations with both grandchildren.
After Harvey’s father became ill, they moved back to Ontario, and into a condo in Mount Hope where they quickly made more great friends – at Twenty Place, Marshall Memorial United Church, the local skating rink, etc. They lived in their home at Twenty Place for 25 years, and shared many happy hours with their great friends there.
In 2021, Louise and Harvey moved to Winnipeg to be closer to Debra and Dave. They moved to The Westhaven, and even though pandemic restrictions made it difficult to meet everyone they made great friends there as well. Louise loved spending time with the Winnipeg part of the family, and especially loved getting to know her great-grandsons Logan and Xavier.
Louise was a great seamstress, making most of her own and her kids clothes for many years. She did beautiful needlepoint, and knitted afghans for everyone in the family! She was also a great baker, and known in our family for her “frugality”. We used to call her mother the “Queen of Cheap”…. It passes from generation to generation!
Over their 65+ years together, Louise and Harvey had many adventures and made many deep and lasting friendships – through work, through sailing, through community and Church activities, through RVing – especially as members of SKP’s (Escapees!). They particularly loved travelling around the entire coast of Mexico with friends Ken and Jean. Wherever they were, there were often gatherings in or around their home/sailboat/trailer/motorhome… full of love and laughter and friends, and a little wine!
Louise – wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, mother-in law (to Dave and Susan), sister, aunt, friend – will be much missed for her laughter, her hospitality, her ability to connect with others, her willingness to offer her time and energy.
She is survived by loving husband Harvey, children; Debra and partner Dave, Paul and partner Susan, grandchildren; Emma and partner Jon, their children, Logan and Xavier, and Karl and partner Katy. Also remembering her fondly are brothers/sisters - in law Harold (Joanne), David (Carolyn), Jim, and Patricia, and numerous nieces and nephews.