Renate Sybilla Bartram (nee Heliosz) was born in Hindenburg, Germany on October 26, 1925 and passed away in Penticton, BC Canada on August 24, 2015. Renate married Hanns Otto August Bartram of Germany on July 23, 1949. They had 8 children: Angela, Peter, Sybilla, Eva, Sandra, Cynthia, Marlon, and Gina.

 Renate was pre-deceased by her husband, her oldest child Angela, and Angela’s daughter Caitlin. She is survived by her 7 other children and 11 grandchildren, Tony, Colin, Karmen, Emma, Alison, Keith, Angelo, Dylan, Taryn, Rebecca, and Jordan, and 3 great grandchildren, Olivia, Troy, and Ana.

 Renate grew up through the severe depression of the 1930's in Germany and through World War 2 in Europe. She worked for the British and was held as a prisoner in an American prison camp at the end of the war. She also worked a number of years in Germany before moving to Canada.

The Bartrams moved to Canada in the mid- 1950's, coming over by boat with 3 children in tow. Mama achieved her Canadian citizenship and lived in Canada the rest of her years.

Mama loved to laugh and tell stories and jokes. She often reminisced of her childhood growing up with her sisters Christa and Lydia and the rest of her family in Germany, whom she always missed dearly.

Mama went back as often as she could to visit her sisters and nieces and nephews in Bendestorf Germany. She especially missed her sister Christa with whom she had a deep bond.

Mama spent her final few years living with the effects of a massive stroke. She had lost her ability to speak all but a few words. "Christa" was one she could say right up until her last days.

Although one could look at her life and see much struggle, pain, and suffering, Mama always had a real zeal for life. She worked tremendously hard to raise her children under many difficult circumstances. She spoke of how she had to chop wood in the middle of winter in Quesnel to keep us all warm in a house with no plumbing or heating while our dad was away working in Kelowna for a few months.

She even volunteered and worked part time while still looking after all of us and the house. Somehow, she always ensuring the household budget was sufficient to provide for her 8 children.

We will always miss you Mama. Thank you or for all your sacrifices you made for us and for a life well-lived.

We love you forever,

 Alle diene Kinder.