Natalie (Kintop) Schnellert

July 1, 1927 – January 2, 2011

After a valiant struggle with Alzheimer’s and surrounded by her family, Natalie Marguerette Schnellert went peacefully to the arms of her Lord on January 2, 2011.

Natalie is survived by her three children, Gary Schnellert (Betty), Lindy Beck (Alfred) and Myrna Tiede (Robert); five grandchildren, Tanya Beck (Dave Streich), James Beck (Susan), Dylan Drake (Marlène Roullier), Natalie Drake (Chris Craig) and Darla Fults (Jon); and six great-grandchildren.

Natalie is also survived by six of her eight siblings: Hulda Patzer, William Kintop (Elsie), Walter Kintop (Betty), Ronald Kintop, Alma Kintop, and Linda Beck. She was predeceased by her brothers Emmanual and Daniel Kintop and her husband Roy (Rudoph) Schnellert.

Prayer service and viewing will be held on Wednesday, January 5 at 7:30 p.m. at the Sobering Funeral Chapel, Beausejour.
Funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 6 at 2:00 p.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church, Thalberg, Mb with Rev. Mark Koenker officiating. There will be viewing prior to the service. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

Natalie was born on July 1, 1927 to Frederick and Maria Kintop in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

She enjoyed growing up on the farm where she helped to raise her younger brothers and sisters. She also enjoyed music, singing and dancing. Dancing was a life-long pleasure and only a few short weeks before she died Natalie danced down the halls of East Gate Lodge on the arm of one of the many exceptional Health Care Aids from the Rose Unit.

Natalie first met Roy when she was a teenager but she was not ready for a serious relationship and they parted ways. Roy went to BC for employment while Natalie moved to Winnipeg and worked as a nanny.

After a few years, Roy and Natalie met again – and this time they decided to waste very little time before getting married! Their wedding was held at Greenwald Lutheran church on July 15, 1949. The newlyweds purchased land and started their own farm. After two years they welcomed their first child (Gary), followed in two years by Lindy and in another two years Myrna was born.

The years on the farm were filled with hard work. But hard work did not mean a grim life and Natalie loved nothing more than a good laugh. In the early years of their marriage, before life got too busy with small children to raise, she was known to tease Roy rather relentlessly. She loved nothing more than a successful prank and enjoyed it all the more in the retelling of it!

In the fall of 1966, after 20 years of farming, Roy and Natalie moved to Pinawa, where they stayed for the next 20 years. Natalie loved her time in Pinawa and in later years would often reflect on what an ideal time it had been in her life.

During their time in Pinawa, Roy and Natalie were also blessed with grandchildren to fuss over and love. She enjoyed having each and every one of them in her home to spoil.

Roy and Natalie retired to the Thalberg region where they built their dream home. As Roy’s health declined, she threw herself into giving him the very best of care. If her love alone could have kept him alive, he would still be here with us. Natalie never fully recovered from Roy’s death and at the time of his passing, her battle with Alzheimer’s began.

Eventually, Natalie moved to Stony Plains in Beausejour. While living there, she received wonderful care for which her family is deeply grateful. As her illness progressed, she made her final move to the Rose Unit at East Gate Lodge. The patience, attention and loving care that she received from all of the workers on the Rose Unit will never be forgotten by family. Angels truly do walk the earth.

Natalie loved gardening, quilting, baking, caring and shopping for her grandchildren, cooking meals for family get-togethers, and socializing with neighbours and family. Church and choir music were always an integral part of Natalie’s life and she valued her faith and her church family.

Of all her accomplishments, however, she considered her greatest achievements to have been in the lives of her family. She loved us with a warmth that will remain in our hearts forever. She leaves each of us with the knowledge that we were truly and deeply loved and we know that she loved the Lord.

Mom, we will always remember the lessons you taught us: to pray in earnest, to minimize family discord and enhance family harmony and to love and care for each other until we see you again.

We are certain that you are dancing through the gates of heaven with Dad.

“A friend hears the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails.”
~ Anonymous

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