Tribute

Barbara Seidel was born on August 12, 1935 to Rudolph Seidel and Lisa Seidel in Germany.

She and her parents had a very challenging and difficult time during WW2 and after with her dad having been in prolonged military service and capture. Her mother was a Red Cross official and nurse during and after the war.

Barbara eventually went to Medical School in Germany and Austria and completed Medical and Surgical training. After residencies in the Frankfurt area she worked as a resident physician in Hoechst, Germany until she established her own independent Internal Medicine practice in Hoechst Germany. She was a loved and cherished personal physician to many patients.

At the time she met her late husband Paul Schuster (around 1968,) she was a resident doctor in the hospital where he was a patient for several months.

She became a friend and later married the late Paul Schuster who after living and working in Germany immigrated to Canada.

Barbara retired from medical practice in Germany and eventually immigrated to Canada around 1984. There she lived in Victoria and Vancouver and Abbotsford until the death of Paul Schuster in 2008. She subsequently lived in a lovely condo in Kerrisdale in the Vancouver area. In 2024 she moved to Tapistry Wesbrook retirement home.

She died unexpected and very  rapidly after a severe stroke while a family member, Dr. Martin Schuster, was visiting her from Ontario on May 20, 2026 at the age of 90. Until then she had good quality of life with full mental capacity.

Her closest Family were her late husband Paul Schuster’s four children, Ernst, Martin, Robert and Paul. Robert passed away in 2021. Her parents predeceased her long time ago and she had no siblings.

Barbara, although no longer practicing medicine after immigrating to Canada, had lots of friends in Vancouver and Germany who she supported with her medical knowledge and her very warm, caring  and supportive personality. She was a very active member of St. Marks Lutheran Church in Vancouver, enjoyed being a member of the choir and church council.

Her family and friends mourn her passing but are also glad that she had a quick non prolonged death at a ripe age after she did mention at times that she was getting tired and ready to move on to be with her Lord

A memorial service is planned on June 9, 11:00 at St. Marks Lutheran Church with her long time pastor and  friend Hardo Ermisch officiating her memorial service and the burial of her ashes with prayers the following day in Abbotsford, BC.

She will be  joining the grave site of her late husband Paul Schuster.

“ Wenn ich einmal soll scheiden

So scheide nicht von mir

Wenn ich den Tod soll leiden

So tritt du denn herfuer

Wenn mir am allerbaengsten

Wird um das Herze sein

So reiss mich aus den Ängsten

Kraft deiner Angst und Pein! “

Text:  Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676)

Musik: Johann Sebastian Bach