Elfriede was born in Hollenburg, Austria on November 14, 1922 and passed away on December 2, 2011 in Victoria, BC. She was predeceased by Franz Vitovec her husband of 67 years. Elfriede is survived by her sons Heinz (& Lisa of Salt Spring Island, BC) and Ernst (& Karen of Fresno, California) and grandsons Karl and Thomas. Elfriede met her future husband in 1939 at a dance in Vienna organized by the Red Cross and they were married in 1942.
Elfriede studied at the Pedagogic Institute at the University of Vienna and worked as a teacher until 1952 when Elfriede, Franz and their two young children moved to Minneapolis where Franz accepted a position at the University of Minnesota. In 1958, Franz’s career took the family to the University of Wisconsin in Madison where he was Professor of Metallurgical and Nuclear Engineering, and in 1965 the family moved to Edmonton, Alberta where Franz was the Chairman of the Department of Mineral Engineering at the University of Alberta. While in Edmonton, Elfriede resumed her teaching career and spent 17 years at the School for the Deaf. She was also actively involved with the Edmonton Symphony and Chamber Music Societies.
In 1987, Elfriede and Franz retired to the Saanich Peninsula in BC. Throughout her life Elfriede was supportive of her husband’s career, passionate about gourmet cooking and entertaining, and she thoroughly enjoyed art, music, and travel. Elfriede’s family would like to thank everyone at Norgarden in Sidney, BC for being part of Elfriede’s extended family for the past two years.
A celebration of Elfriede’s life will be held at 10AM Saturday, December 10 at First Memorial Funeral Services, 4725 Falaise Drive, Victoria, BC. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation, 2166 Mt Newton X Road, Saanichton, BC, V8M 2B2.