Hanna Frieda Hunter

With sadness we announce that Hanna passed quietly on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. Hanna was born in Zerbst, Germany to Emma Frieda Stemler Rappsilber and Friedrich Karl Rappsilber. Traumatized by her experiences during WW2, she immigrated to Canada in the spring of 1952 with her husband Verner Breitenstein and their young son Michael. From that point on she considered Canada her home of choice but carried with her the lasting emotional scars of the war.

Hanna is survived by her sister Vera Münzner and her family in Germany who will miss her. She gained numerous family members through her work and her second marriage in Canada: her daughter-in-law Gloria; grandchildren, Belinda, Michael, and Timothy; great-grandchildren, Jonathan, Daniel, Gideon, Kori, and Claighton; great-great grandchildren Emily and Anika; and stepson from her second marriage, Allan Hunter. Hanna was so pleased to have lived to see her grandchildren.

Hanna was predeceased by numerous family members including her dear cousin Heinz, her first husband Werner (Vern) Breitenstein and their son Michael, and her second husband Ralph Hunter.

Vern and Hanna loved music and dancing, and with their son Michael spent their early days in Canada enjoying nature, camping, hiking, and fishing in the mountains. Hanna was a skilled homemaker and an accomplished baker. In 1964 she began a 50-year career with the Mannix family as a housekeeper and became a favoured nanny to their grandchildren and eventually to ten of the great-grandchildren.

A decade after Vern’s death, Hanna and Ralph were introduced by Allan Hunter's uncle, Doug Hill at a singles dance where they returned many times as they became accustomed to each other’s companionship and began their courtship. They married and moved to Penticton where Hanna took charge of a complete strip down renovation of the house they had purchased on Montreal Street. Her attention to detail and managing the project were a time of hard work, joy, stress, and accomplishment as they restored what was called "The Cat House" by Hanna and Ralph, as the previous owner had dozens of cats. Hanna was 'Clearly' in charge of the project despite Ralph’s white hard hat and even his gold one. He was content to be the "Assistant foreman as long as she kept the food and beverages coming.”

Hanna's hands were always busy, and she excelled at many creative hobbies, including hand-stitching greeting cards, crocheting, needlepoint, and sewing. She was an avid knitter and gave hundreds of toques, blankets, and bed socks to friends and strangers alike. She was particularly grateful to live in Canada and always appreciated the kindness of the Canadian troops in WWII, so local veterans received the majority of her handmade bed socks and toques. Hanna was a generous friend to many and loved animals, great and small.

A Celebration of Hanna’s wonderful life will take place at Pierson’s Funeral Service (4121 17 Ave SE, Calgary, AB) on Saturday, August 15, 2026 at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers, and if friends desire, donations to PALS (Pet Access League Society) in Hanna's memory would be appreciated: (403) 250-7257 or info@palspets.com