Christina (Tina) Gabriele Griffin (nee Tismer)

Tina was born in Steglitz, Berlin.

At the age of 3, she travelled with her mother, grandmother, and 2 older siblings to meet her father and grandfather in Canada. They had gone ahead to secure jobs, and create a new life away from the chaos that was still war torn Germany. They ended up settling in Winnipeg first living on McKenzie Avenue. Shortly after they moved the family to their first purchased home on Simpson Avenue in East Kildonan for her childhood and teenage years. The family enjoyed “lake life” in Lee River where they spent their summers with a seasonal campsite. This was where Tina met many friends, but most importantly she met the love of her life, Rodney. They met in summer of 1972, and got married on April 12th of 1975. They resided in Winnipeg where Tina worked at TD bank as a teller. She had nearly finished management training, when she decided raising their daughter was more important.

Their only daughter, Elisa, was born in December of 1977, and Tina chose to be a stay at home mom. Reading, drawing, gardening, playing outdoors, hiking, and baking filled those days, until 1982, when Elisa started Kindergarten.

Tina then returned to the workforce at the Winnipeg Rotary Club, where she was the secretary. She loved this job, but ended up leaving in 1988 to help Rodney follow his dream of opening his own small engine repair business.

They relocated to the country in Ridgeville, Manitoba to do so.

In 1988, she had her first major loss, her father Joachim, died quickly after a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

Once Rodney’s business was started, she took a job working as secretary of Shevchenko School in Vita, Manitoba. During her summers off, she took the training to become a Librarian, and once it was completed, she took over the librarian position at the school. This is where she found her true passion; working with children and helping them find and grow their love of books, and experience the joy and accomplishment of reading. During her career as a librarian, she was never afraid to take time out of her day, or stay late after school to help any of the students with school or life issues. She was a great listener, who always tried to see the good, and she loved the positive impact she was able to have on so many childrens’ lives.

In 1993, she had her second major loss with the sudden passing of her sister, Margit Sarapu.

In 1994, Tina and Rodney purchased their dream home in Woodmore, Manitoba. It had everything they ever wanted. A larger yard to fill with cats and dogs, and a pasture and a barn large enough to finally keep their horses at home. Many memories were made here with family and friends; from birthdays, to graduation parties, and regular “just because” family parties. Then in 1998, she lost one of her best friends, her only brother, Joe.

Their daughter Elisa married J.C. Boily in 2003, and shortly after gave Rod and Tina their only Granddaughter, Emily.

Emily was deeply adored by her grandparents. They spent every extra moment they had with her.

On May 17th, 2013, Tina had her biggest loss.

She lost her love Rodney, to undiagnosed E-Coli poisoning. It took him quickly

Tina struggled with Type 1 Diabetes from the age of 8. It overshadowed her life, but she always tried to live life to the fullest up until the loss of Rod. Having her first heart attack at the age of 34, and open heart surgery in 2011, Tina never expected to be widowed. Rodney was the “healthy, strong one”. He was never sick.

Losing Rodney changed her, and left her with a deep sadness - part of her died with him, and she was never truly the same.

Elisa, J.C., and Emily left their home shortly after to live with, and look after Tina. Her heartbroken mental state resulted in worsening health issues, which also lead to her early retirement from Borderland School Division in September, 2015.

Tina moved to Winnipeg with Elisa, JC, and Emily, in 2017. From 2019 through 2022, she had many lengthy hospital stays. She also had the loss of her mother, Inge Tismer, in September of 2019, who she was sadly unable to say goodbye to. In 2021, Tina contracted Bacterial Meningitis, which was incredibly difficult to get through during the height of covid chaos, as it was difficult for anyone to visit her.

Due to her hospitalization, she was then forced to miss one of the things she looked forward to most- seeing her granddaughter graduate High school.

Though doctors didn’t expect it, Tina survived the meningitis, though she was left with a serious brain injury that led to lasting health issues and dementia. In 2023, they decided as a family to move back out to the country, but not as far as Woodmore. Elisa and J.C. bought a country acreage in Ste.Genevieve, MB. Close enough to Winnipeg to be an easy drive to Tina’s doctor’s appointments. She was able to be back to peaceful, tranquil, country living, and spent most of her time with the family dogs. She found lots of joy in watching birds, and would often be found sitting outside early in the mornings, listening to them sing.

She enjoyed almost 2 years in the country, when her health again took an extreme turn for the worse in December, 2024. Her kidneys began failing, resulting in congestive heart failure. Tina fought hard to stay on this plane - she wanted to see “her Emily” grow up more. Tina had wanted to watch Emily build her life with her partner Silas. She encouraged Emily’s dream of pursuing a career as an artist and musician, and was her biggest fan. She loved Silas deeply, and often spoke about how Rodney would have loved him too. She was happy to hear that they were moving to their own home it gave her peace.

Tina did return home after a 3 month hospital stay. She now required 24/7 care. Awaiting to be placed in a care home,

Elisa, JC, and Emily looked after her, trying to keep her at home as long as possible. On Easter Sunday of 2025, the family home burned with 100% loss. Due to the extensive care she required, and the lack of proper living amenities after the fire, she was then placed in the Gladstone care home on an emergency basis. She lasted there only a short time, and her failing health resulted in her being transferred to the Neepawa hospital. Despite the circumstances, there was a silver lining that Emily was stationed in Neepawa for work 3 nights a week, and was able to visit her a lot.

Tina was moved closer to home to the Ste. Anne hospital as soon as space opened, so she could be closer to family.

In her final days, she looked forward to dancing with Rodney again, as she was regularly heard saying “we never danced enough”. After days of being mostly asleep and in pain, her second last day, she woke up happy and smiling.

She started singing, so we put on her and Rodney’s favourite songs. After not eating, and barely drinking for days, she asked for a “cold, cold” glass of wine. The doctors and nurses told us she could have whatever she wanted, so we picked up a bottle of her favorite type of moscato (there happened to be that type in the cooler at the liquor store) She smiled, laughed, sang, and reminisced while she enjoyed her wine, as though her brain was uninjured. She had one last happy day and she didn’t even nap once. Once she went to sleep, she slept through the night, and never fully woke again. She periodically would smile and say, “I love you”. We promised she wouldn’t be alone, so we stayed with her, told her we would love her forever, and never forget her. We told her to tell my dad how much we miss him, and that we love him too. Just before her last breath July 30th, a single tear rolled down her cheek. I believe my dad came to get her, her physical body had sadness because she was leaving the family she loved so much, but had joy to reunite with her soulmate, and meet God. I have no doubt she is dancing with my dad in heaven, and catching up with all those who had already left this plane.

She will be deeply missed by all of us; her daughter Elisa, son-in-law J.C., granddaughter Emily, future grandson in-law Silas Geworsky and his parents Rob Geworsky and Trace Gerworsky-Smithers, her dogs Toby, Loki, and Billie, and her two cats Moshii and Frankie.

She is also survived by her estranged sister Gabby (Mike Quinn), uncle Dieter Wernicke (Mary), cousin Sabyna Sawka (Richard) and Dieter Wernicke Jr., brother-in-law Robert Griffin, brother-in- law Keith Griffin, sisterin-law Kim Griffin, nephew Darren Sarapu, nephew Robert Griffin Jr., nephew Randy Griffin, niece Misty Riach, niece Raelee LeMay and niece Kira Griffin and many great nieces and nephews.

She was also predeceased by her parents-in-law Eleanor and Daniel Griffin, grandparents Bruno and Martha Wernicke, brother-in-law Jim Sarapu (Margit), brother-in-law Jeff Griffin and sister-in- law Cheryl Griffin.

Thank you to the staff at the Ste. Anne Hospital. Cremation has taken place, and as per Tina’s wishes there will not be a formal service. Rodney and Tina’s ashes will be combined in an urn, and spread along the backroads near the place they called home in Woodmore.

In lieu of flowers or donations, Be Kind in life... it's free.

When you think of her, just know she’s dancing in the sky.

www.soberingfuneralchapel.com