Ursula Maria Mohring
Passed away peacefully, with her daughter by her side, at Hospice Waterloo Region on Friday October 27, 2023 at the age of 85 years.
Ursula was born on February 22, 1938 in Herbolzheim, Germany to parents Wilhelm Villinger (born in 1888) and Johanna Villinger (nee Knabe born in 1902). Ursula was born the third child alongside her oldest brother Hans (born in 1925) and sister Ruth (born in 1930).
Both of Ursula’s parents, aged 58 and 44, died in 1946, and in the same year her brother Hans died at the age of 21 in Russian captivity.
Ursula and her youngest brother Volkhard, (born in 1942), were initially placed in an orphanage after the deaths of their parents and a year later were adopted among their mother's relatives in Herbolzheim.
After Ursula's 8 years of schooling at what was then the 'Volksschule' (Elementary school) in Herbolzheim, she completed 2 years at what was then the 'Higher Commercial School' in the neighboring Kenzingen, from which she graduated with the professional title of ‘Secretary.’
On September 15, 1956, Ursula married Ernst Mohring, who had fled Stutthof (now Poland) with his family in the post-war period. She lived with him in a small one-room apartment with a kitchen and an outside shared toilet. On December 24, 1956, she gave birth to her first daughter Johanna in a home birth under life-threatening circumstances.
In 1963, the Mohrings and their daughter Johanna emigrated to Canada where they stayed for a short while until they became homesick and returned to Germany, where they then couldn’t find suitable accommodation and again returned to Canada when Ursula was 6 months pregnant with their 2nd daughter Nancy. They rented the upper floor of the house of an elderly couple whom were known as “Grandma and Grandpa Kiss.” Nancy was born on August 27, 1965. Ernst worked as a glazier (speaking no English) and when Ursula was ready to start employment, her first job was with Electrohome where she learned to speak the language through friends and television. They purchased their own home shortly after their 2nd daughter was born where they remained until the year 2001. Ursula ended her employment career in 2000 with Raytheon Canada which is also when they purchased their cottage on Lake Nippissing where they enjoyed their retirement years with their many cottage friends.
Ursula and her youngest brother Volkhard encountered some unpleasant experiences in their childhood and adolescence that were not nice to talk about, but other episodes of life then, were not as bad. One of them is worth telling because it documents Ursula’s love of animals and is shared by her brother Volkhard.
“In our relatives' chicken coop there was an elderly chicken that was soon to be slaughtered because it no longer laid eggs. We children felt sorry for the poor chicken and thought about how we could prevent the old chicken from being decapitated.
The garden behind the chicken area was spacious and unfenced, so we chased the chicken out of its area in the hope that it would hide in the garden and be able to escape death. But it didn't. The next day Ursula caught the chicken and set off with him and her little brother to an area far from our garden that was unknown to the chicken. There we released it into freedom.
In fact, the chicken disappeared (and was probably spared). Our relatives' research into the cause of the chicken's disappearance was unsuccessful and we were careful not to contribute anything to clarify the matter.
After more than seventy years, Ursula has now put her secret in a safe place, but I am now passing it on to you, dear Nancy, with a clear conscience: the facts of the case have long since become statute-barred!”
This was just one of many stories of Ursula’s love for animals as there are too many to re-tell ranging from cats to dogs and raccoons to donkeys! Her last pet (seen in the picture) was her little Jelly Bean who picked Ursula to be her owner amongst all of the cottages where Jelly Bean would roam freely. Jelly Bean always chose to stay with Ursula and Ernst so they ended up adopting her and she lived with them until she passed in 2016.
Beloved wife and best friend of the late Ernst Mohring (August 18, 2023). Loving and cherished mother of Johanna and Nancy Mohring (Paul Amaley).
Proud Oma of Konrad, Victor and Delbert.
Dear sister of Volkhard Villinger (Inge) and proud Tante (Aunt) to Andy (Simone), Kaji (who passed away at the age of 14 from a childhood illness) and Inken.
Predeceased by her parents Wilhelm and Johanna Villinger, brother Hans and sister Ruth Vonarburg (January 10, 2023) /(nee Villinger).
Cremation has taken place. A private family gathering will be held for both Ursula and Ernst at a later date.
We would like to express our heartfelt thank you to all the staff and many volunteers at the Hospice Waterloo Region for all their kindness and compassion shown to Ursula, her late husband Ernst and our family. We would also like to thank Ursula’s friends who visited her over the past 2 years in hospice.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hospice Waterloo Region as expressions of sympathy.
Messages and condolences may be left for the family at www.tricitycremations.com or 519-722-1237. Please visit Ursula’s obituary notice on Facebook.