‘She was full of joy and happiness that was infectious’
Sophie Orsan of Kitchener Born: July 24, 1930 in Romania Died: March 11, 2020 of age-related illness
Ask anyone who knew Sophie Orsan about what she was like as a person, and the accolades seem unending.
This admiration doesn’t come from any academic or professional accomplishment, but rather because she was selfless and generous, and a devoted friend, mother, and grandmother.
And she was kind, oh so kind. Her son, Nick Orsan, said “Mom was an energetic, happy person who lit up any room she was in with her smile and personality. She was full of joy and happiness that was infectious.”
Sophie’s early years could have made her bitter, but they didn’t. War, refugee camps, it all seemed to steel her determination to put the past behind her and live with joy.
Sophie was born July 24, 1930, in Romania, near the border of a German-speaking region of Transylvania. She grew up in a German-dominated culture, spoke the language, danced with abandon to the music, and cooked the food.
Her father, George Koehler, was a carpenter, her mother Kathrina, stayed home, and both worked their small farm. Displaced from her home during the Second World War, Sophie lived in a refugee camp, her education interrupted and her dream of becoming a kindergarten teacher quashed.
In 1947, the war was over and Sophie, an adult now, had choices. She made a bold one.
Dona Massel deeply admired her friend.
“Sophie was one of the most brave and courageous women I have known,” recalled Dona. “She came to Canada on her own when she was 18.”
Dona recalls being told that Sophie’s father didn’t want her to leave Romania, but she was independent and determined as well as a hard worker. Within a few years, she saved enough money to bring her parents and brother Stephan to Canada.
Sophie had started her new life working for a Jewish family in Montreal. She couldn’t speak English so the family made her a deal: she taught their children German and they would teach her English.
Sophie met John Orsan in Montreal and initially rejected him until she was sure he was sincere. He was. John was five years her senior and had come from Romania a year after she did. They married in 1950, lived in Montreal and had their first child, John, before moving to Tillsonburg, Ont., to work on tobacco farms where the pay was higher. They would eventually have three more children: Nick, James, and Norma.
The next move would be to Kitchener after John landed a job at Uniroyal, where he stayed until retirement.
Sophie worked odd jobs, but John, finally earning a good living, suggested she could stay home. Sophie now had time to devote to her church, St. Mary’s, the Catholic Women’s League and the Schwaben Club. In all three places, Sophie sparkled as a volunteer over three decades. Her baking, schnitzel and cabbage rolls were particularly appreciated at fundraisers. The neighbourhood kids were also drawn to the Orsan household when Sophie was cooking. Inevitably there would be a tiny fist knocking on the door and Sophie would shuffle the child indoors to join the family.
The couple returned to Romania in 1978 for a visit. Norma accompanied her parents and was touched by the kindness and hospitality of the people, much like her mother.
Sophie was all about giving, not receiving.
That visit, the last to their homeland, was emotional and some moments made them tremble.
John had been an escaped prisoner of war and feared communist Romania might still have his name on the books as a fugitive. He told Norma and Sophie that if anything happened to him, they were to get on the train to Germany where he had family.
“We had KGB agents following us, just like in the movies,” said Norma.
Sophie would have taken all this in her stride.
“Mom was always the anchor, no matter what was happening it was going to be OK,” said
Norma.
Fortunately, nothing happened, and they travelled freely. John and Sophie would never return because part of their life was over, the life they built in Canada was more important.
After John died of cancer in 2003, the highly social Sophie moved to a seniors’ residence and fit right in. Her son John recalled bringing her to their home for barbecues, a real treat for Sophie.
“She would be the first one at the table for the meal and, as soon as she was done, she would ask who was going to take her home.”
Sophie died March 11, 2020, of age-related illness.
Granddaughter, Marian Switzer, concluded, “She was always incredibly selfless, and I believe helping others brought her a great sense of happiness and purpose.”