Elfriede Khes
July 29, 1938 – November 6, 2025
With profound sadness, the family of Elfriede Khes announce her passing on November 6, 2025, at the age of 87.
A loving wife of 66 years to Josef Khes, Elfriede will be forever remembered and loved by herchildren, Rosemarie (Dennis 1953-2022), Doris (Ron), and Brenda (Les), and by her grandchildren, Deidre (Alexander) and Adrian Khes-Kovacs, and Nicole (Chris) and Deanna(Justin) Khes-Grabiec, and her great-grandchildren, Georgia, Bowen, Walker, and Eleanor.
She is predeceased by her parents, Fred and Marie Keul, her brother, Fred Keul, and her son-in-law, Dennis Graham. She is survived by her brother, Rick (Donna) Keul and sister, Betty (Murray) Moreau.
Family was most important to Elfriede. She was devoted to Joe. She cherished her children and grandchildren, all their partners, and her great-grandchildren. She included all their dogs in her far-reaching embrace of love.
Elfriede was loving, kind, caring, friendly, strong, smart, and pragmatic. She was generous in every way. Her passion for feeding people was boundless, and her legendary cooking and baking were widely appreciated and complimented. She was always the first to lend a hand. Elfriede believed in the best of people and her capacity for grace and forgiveness was humbling.
Elfriede was born in a tiny village in Romania in 1938 where the first precious years of her life were spent in the loving care of her parents. She and her little brother, Freddie, had a sweetdog named Waldi, who was their constant companion. The Second World War shattered their lives – separating them from their parents and the home life they knew. After the war, the family was reunited in Austria from where, in 1952, they departed for Canada to build a new life.
While the first few years in Hamilton were very hard, Elfriede learned to speak English, developed lasting friendships and community through the German Lutheran Church and learned bookkeeping skills that led her to her first job. At 18 she joined the Germania club where she met the love of her life, Joe. Together they danced at every dance—always the first and last to leave the floor, and were active members of the club. In 1959, Elfriede and Joe married, and by 1964 they had three children and had built their dream home.
Elfriede worked several jobs over the course of her life, managed the family home, sewed clothes and costumes, and chauffeured her children and grandchildren to countless appointments, lessons, and parties. She was an adored Oma, who was never without home-baked cookies, cupcakes or brownies. Most recently, she marveled at the birth of her four great-grandchildren, calling each one her “sunshine”—for the light they brought into her life. Elfriede welcomed everyone warmly into her home. She nurtured meaningful, long, lasting friendships and cared genuinely and deeply for people.
Elfriede loved to travel. With Joe, she traveled far and wide, including countries throughout Europe, Central and South America, Mexico, the Caribbean, the United States, and Canada. For 10 years, she and Joe spent a few months each winter in their home in Florida, where their children and grandchildren were always welcome.
A visitation will take place on Wednesday, November 12th, 2025 at Turner Family Funeral Home, 53 Main Street, Dundas, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. A funeral service will follow at 10:00 a.m., with a small reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation, CNIB Guide Dogs, or Citykidz would be greatly appreciated.