Gerlinde (Linda) Maria Drobe

It is with love and gratitude for a life well-lived that we share the passing of Gerlinde (Linda) Maria Drobe, who peacefully left us on August 31, 2026, at the age of 95.

Linda was predeceased by her parents, Richard and Maria Blaschke, and her sisters, Margit Schindl and Elizabeth Blaschke.

She will be lovingly remembered by her children, Irene Wihak (David) and and their children, Maria and Luke; John Drobe and his children, Sonia and Stella; and Brian Drobe (Tammy) and their children, Carson and Katie.

Linda will also be greatly missed by her nieces, Eva and Lisbeth Schindl; her nephews, Manfred and Rudi; and their mother, Linda’s youngest sister, Erna Rodig. She will be remembered with great affection by her nursing colleagues, neighbours, and many dear friends who were blessed to know her.

Linda was born in Spachendorf, Czechoslovakia, on June 7, 1931. As a young girl, she and her family were relocated to Germany during the war, where she eventually trained as a nurse. There, she met her future husband, George, and in 1952, she joined him in Canada, settling in Calgary. The family later moved to Delta, BC, and eventually to South Surrey, where Linda raised her children, primarily as a single mother following her divorce from George.

Linda went on to become a Registered Nurse and worked in the Coronary Care Unit at Surrey Memorial Hospital for 25 years. After retiring, she looked for ways to give back to her community and volunteered at Good Shepherd Church in White Rock. She was fiercely independent, a caring mother and proud grandmother, a dedicated nurse, a thoughtful neighbour, and a devout Catholic.

Linda settled in White Rock once her children were grown and established in their careers. She took great pride in her home and garden, and continued mowing her lawn, washing her house, and cleaning her eaves well into her late eighties. Her garden was a place of peace and joy, as were the walking trails through the nearby forest.

Linda’s life was one of resilience, service, faith, family, and friendship. She spent her final years at Nicola Lodge Care Home in Port Coquitlam, and her family is deeply grateful for the loving care and kindness she received there.

She leaves behind a legacy of caring for others, welcoming people into her home, and finding joy in the simple things, a beautiful garden, a walk through the forest, sharing cake and coffee, and time spent with those she loved.

Prayers will be held Thursday, September 10, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Clare of Assisi Parish, 2888 Delahaye Drive, Coquitlam, BC. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at the parish on Friday, September 11, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the BC SPCA or the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).