Elvira Catalina Schanzenbach was born on April 27, 1935 in Argentina to 2nd generation immigrants from Europe in the late 1800's.

The oldest of six children, she was her Papa's 'right hand' helper in whatever task he was doing out in the open ranch country, where they worked so hard to make ends meet. Elvira was eager to please. A sensitive, obedient girl growing up, She had no lofty dreams, but to help and serve. She had often mentioned her desire to be a nurse, but funds for education were unattainable. Later in her retirement, her greatest joy and satisfaction was to serve as a volunteer here in the Three Hills Long Term Care Unit for over 20 years, loving on the residents as an extension of her family.

Elvira had a loving, Christian heritage. She recounts the Christian Evangelical Youth Conferences where she was challenged to surrender her life to Jesus as the only Way, Truth, and Life, and renew her commitment to Him as her Lord and Savior. She was one of many who were baptized in a nearby river on the confession of her faith. Her Faith and relationship with Jesus became and remained so very important to her.

It was at one of these Youth Conferences that she met and later married Jorge Schanzenbach from Uruguay and their two daughters were born there. In 1966, God opened the door for them to immigrate to Ontario, Canada. They attended and were very active in a German Baptist Church in Kitchener. Here, God moved in a mighty way in their lives through the Canadian Revival that started in Saskatchewan in the early 1970s. They both had a very real and close personal encounter with the Lord, which changed their lives and the lives of their young family. They never tired of telling others of their personal experiences with God. This experience sparked further ministry within a group of Spanish speaking fellow immigrants to Canada. The Lord then led them to return to Uruguay and Argentina to share their testimony of God's work in their lives and encourage the Faith of their families. They made these visits as often as they were able.

Over the next 20 years, God moved them to Abbotsford, then to Armstrong, B.C. and finally to Three Hills, Alberta in 1993. During these years, their promised miracle son was born when Elvira was 45 years old, which blessed Jorge and Elvira's descendants to 3 children, 8 grandchildren, and currently, 16 great-grandchildren...

Of Course, there are so many God stories between these lines. Stories of rich blessing, as well as difficult and painful losses. One of which was Jorge's stroke in 2015 and subsequent death in 2018. Elvira courageously continued to enjoyed life, blessing all who were privileged to know her. She suffered a sudden severe stroke on Sept. 20th and bravely fought with intense pain and suffering, from which God graciously released and called to her heavenly reward on Nov. 10/24.

Elvira, and we, as her family, are so very grateful for ALL the Tender Loving Care the Acute Care Nurses and Doctors gave her in her most difficult and painfully challenging weeks in the Three Hills Hospital. We Thank ALL of you who, cared and prayed, visited and encouraged Elvira and her family! May God richly bless you!!

Elvira loved her kitchen, creating mouth watering foods for her family and friends. She loved her vegetable garden and flowers. She loved others with an open, winsome spirit and thankfulness, generously blessing many friends and neighbours with her delicious homemade muffins.

Elvira knew and Loved God intimately and loved to read and study God's Word for hours! She loved her family intensely, wrestling and interceding for each of them on her knees by her bed with loud and anguished prayers and heart wrenching tears, desiring each of them to pursue God and His best for their lives... to be obedient to His Word and Faithful to the very End. We greatly miss her deep love and prayers already!! May God yet answer her whole heart's desires and prayers! For the Glory of God! Amen!!

Dear Family and Friends of Elvira Schanzenbach,

Thank you all for your affection and prayers for us as family as we start a new chapter of our lives without her physical presence. She is very greatly missed already!

🙏🥰 To encourage the family, and if you would like to share a word of appreciation to honour Elvira, please send tributes and notes to:

elviraschanzenbach@gmail.com

The Memorial Service was held at the Prairie Tab Church in Three Hills, Alberta.