Brigitte Duemmel

Brigitte grew up during wartime Germany and, with the hope of making a better life for herself, made the brave decision to immigrate to Canada on her own at the young age of 18. She began working in Montreal but soon moved to Toronto where she met her future husband, Alfred Kukemueller who had also immigrated to Canada from Germany . They married in Toronto in 1958 where they lived and worked until deciding to move to Bobcaygeon in the heart of Ontario 's cottage country in 1970.

In addition to raising two daughters, Brigitte also successfully ran a European deli and catering business which allowed her to further pursue her love of cooking. She loved spending the summers by the lake and was an accomplished waterskier and loved to swim. Brigitte had a lifelong love of the arts, and enjoyed introducing her daughters to the ballet, theatre and museums. She was an amateur water colour artist and avid collector of beautiful fabric and pursued her passion for design and textiles throughout her life by creating beautiful garments for herself and her family.

After divorcing, Brigitte moved to Peterborough where she lived on her own. She attended Trent University and later re-discovered her love of travel, visiting Europe , Western Canada and Florida . As well, she developed passions for reading, gardening, antiques, and touring the open road. She also spent time living in PEI and Brockville and in 2008, to be closer to her children, she moved to Mississauga .

Brigitte is survived by her two children, Diane (Ian) Adam and Lilly Kukemueller, her granddaughters, Erin Deehan, Jenna Deehan and Virginia Deehan, her sister Sylvia Meyer in Germany , her niece Sandra Snell and her nephew Richard Duemmel in Canada , as well as many other grand nieces and nephews in her extended family. A private family memorial is being planned and in lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be sent in her name to the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation.