GISELA FITT

Gisela Erna Maria Fitt (nee Rayber)

October 18, 1935 – December 12, 2020 

It is with great sadness we wish to announce the passing of our mother, Gisela Erna Maria Fitt (nee Rayber).  

Gisela was born in Germany to Erich and Erna Rayber, the 2nd of 5 children. She and her family endured the terrible events of World War II. After the war, she went into training for Homemaking skills at which she certainly excelled. She immigrated to Canada in 1958/59 and somehow ended up in Edmonton where she met and married Edward Fitt in June 1962. Christine came along in 1965 and then in 1967, 8 months pregnant with Gerald, they moved to Germany for four years with the Canadian Air Force. 

Coming back to Canada in 1971, they settled in the Trenton/Belleville area of Ontario. She worked at the Four Seasons Hotel in Belleville as a Salad chef. In 1973, Gisela and Ed moved to Victoria BC where she lived & worked for 20+ years, working at a few of the deli’s in town including Williams Quality Meats and Adrienne’s Deli. She finished up her working career at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital preparing patient meals. Gisela and Ed moved to Chemainus in the summer of 1993 where Ed passed in 1999.  She met her special friend, Jim Clark, in 2008 and they enjoyed many adventures together until his death in 2018. In 2019, she moved off the island to Vernon BC.  

She remained incredibly independent right up until the end of her life. Her loves were her family and her many activities. Gisela’s talents included knitting, crocheting, crafts of all kinds, baking, cooking, and gardening. She is fondly remembered by many for her amazing skills in the kitchen, particularly her baking, and especially at Christmas time. She loved to tell stories about her life’s many adventures. She had an adventurous spirit and enjoyed trying new things like tubing on Kalamalka Lake behind a speedboat and riding on the back of a motorcycle with her son and daughter-in-law. She enjoyed travelling to new places; she also loved sending out gift baskets of goodies to people containing her mouth watering baking. 

Gisela was predeceased by her parents in June 1977, her husband Ed in February 1999, and her brother Manfred. 

She will be missed by family including numerous nieces, nephews and in particular by her sisters Vera, Christel (Peter), Helga (Rob); her children Christine (Shaun), and Gerald (Shylo) and as Omi to grandchildren: Olivia, Jordan, Dustin, Landon, Jared and special family friends, Buddy and Annette Simms. 

The family very much wishes to thank the kind and caring staff on West 2nd Floor at the Vernon Jubilee Hospital for their exceptional care during her final days. 

There will be no services at Gisela’s request. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her name to the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation, 2101–32nd Street, Vernon V1T 5L2  (https://vjhfoundation.org/)

Arrangements entrusted to Vernon Funeral Home 250-542-0155. Condolences may be left at; www.vernonfuneralhome.com