Hermine Augustine Berendt

Hermine Augustine Berendt (Zaunscherb) October 15, 1918 - January 6, 2022 It's with great sadness to announce the passing of our Omi on January 6, 2022 in Hamilton, Ontario. She was 103 years old, and what a colourful, loving life our family is blessed to celebrate. Everyone called her Omi - which is an endearing term for Grandma in German, although she is Austrian. Omi was born during the last weeks of World war 1, and lived through the hardships of World war 2. She was an accomplished seamstress, working in a posh salon in Viena, Austria. She married Fritz Kurzreiter and her only daughter Hannelore (Hanny) was born during wartime. In 1952, she followed her brother to Canada for a better life. She found employment at Susan Shoes, sewing on a factory line in Burlington for 13 years. Always thinking, she bought a Volkswagen Beetle car, which paid for itself by driving 3 other women to work. She purchased her own home eventually, renting out 2 apartments to help, while raising her daughter alone. Sometime later, she married again, and soon retired. She enjoyed a more leisure life of camping and travelling around North America for many years, first in a camper trailer, and then a motorhome. She loved cooking, baking, gardening, sewing and was skilled at them all. She loved spending time with her grandchildren, and was always the first to defend and champion them. A very loving and generous person, if not mischievous with good intentions, she would do anything for her family. Into her 80's, great-grandchildren arrived to her absolute joy, providing playtime, care, and fun for both them and her, while providing daycare. Omi had a love affair with animals, specifically her dogs and anyone else's dogs too. She was blessed with exceptionally great health and drover her own car until she was 90. She lived with Hanny for the last 29 years in a shared home in Hamilton, Ontario. She enjoyed big birthdays on her 80th, 90th and 100th, and as always one for style, still wore a leopard print dress on her 100th! She spent her final 2-3 years wearing a Foremans hat commenting on the cooking, cleaning and general housework while Hanny grinned and let her. (Kudo's mom, God bless your patience!). Life gave her 3 more great-great grandchildren in the last few years, another joy for her. A wonderful life, fully lived and loved. Survived by daughter Hanny ten Brinke, brother Franz Zauncherb (Elfriede, deceased), grandchildren Rick Ten Brinke (Skylar), Rob Ten Brinke, Steven Ten Brinke (Lisa). Great-grandchildren Danielle Spoelstra (David), Aric Ten Brinke, Tristan Ten Brinke, Alyssa Ten Brinke and Luke Ten Brinke. Nephews Frank Zauncherb (Gayle) and Eric Zaunscherb (Helen). More Grandchildren through marriage that were special to Omi are Joanne Kool (Ten Brinke) and Bernice Ten Brinke. Great-grandchildren Jacob Ten Brinke, Bryan Kool, Adam Kool, Calvin Kool and Janet Schutten. Donations to the Hamilton SPCA in lieu of flowers would make Omi really happy. Cremation has taken place. A celebration of life will take place at a later date to be announced.