Obituary of Lucy "Roberta" Anna Ratz
RATZ: Lucy Roberta Anna (nee Chapman) passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Saturday, March 5, 2022 at the age of 94 years. Roberta was born in Brandon on August 1, 1927. Roberta was the first of two children born to Charles and Mary Ann Chapman. She was raised in Brookdale, Manitoba where she attended the Brookdale Consolidated School where she developed a true love of learning. She enjoyed helping on the farm planting and harvesting the garden, preparing turkeys for Christmas market, and of course looking after her little brother. When not helping on the farm, she was always helping others either through her membership in CGIT, or knitting and preparing parcels to be sent to soldiers overseas. Roberta went on to receive her teaching certificate in 1950. She spent the majority of her career in Winnipeg where she taught at Kelvin High School and Edmund Partridge Jr High until her retirement in 1981. She taught in Winnipeg Monday through Friday and then made her way back to Brandon for weekends to be with family. Roberta always put family first. She loved being with her family and spent quality time with her nephew, Bill. She later created many memories with her great nieces, Angela and Stacy. One of the best, being their Clear Lake holidays. When not with family, Roberta enjoyed travelling in her free time and took multiple trips to Louth, England, her family’s ancestral home. Following her retirement, Roberta moved to Brandon to live with her parents and lend a helping hand as was her way of giving. Roberta and Harvey Ratz had a long distance relationship for many years and finally married in 1985 after Roberta moved back to Brandon. They enjoyed attending local sporting events including the Brandon Wheat Kings, the Cloverleafs and the horse races in Killarney. Roberta and Harvey attended Central United Church, where Roberta volunteered her time and helped lead the UCW for many years. After Harvey passed away in 1993, Roberta filled her time by assisting other ladies by driving them to church, taking them to lunches and helping run errands. She always made helping others a priority. Roberta was predeceased by her parents, Charles and Mary Ann; husband, Harvey; brother, Thory and sister-in-law, Margaret. Left to lovingly remember her include her nephew, Bill (Shiela); great nieces, Angela (Andy), Stacy (Collin) and great great nieces, Logan and Rylee. A Family Graveside Service was held on March 28, 2022 at the Brandon Cemetery with Rev. Doug Craig officiating. Flowers are gratefully declined. Donations in memory of Roberta may be made to CancerCare Manitoba, 1160-675 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0V9 or to a charity of choice. The family would like to thank Dinsdale Personal Care Home, especially the 2nd Floor, for the loving compassionate care given to our Aunt Roberta
