Manya Brunzema
September 19, 1964 – January 18, 2023
It is with deep sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Manya Brunzema, née Ocken, on January 18th, 2023. Manya was born on September 19, 1964, in Westerstede/Ammerland, Germany and was 58 years old at the time of her passing.
Manya was a highly educated woman, who studied art history at the Georg-August-University in Göttingen, Germany with minors in French philology and folklore. After working for the German Federal Government’s press and information office for two years, Manya married Friedrich Brunzema in 1992 and immigrated to Canada. In 1995, she completed her doctoral thesis on “The St. Luke Altar by Hinrik Borneman and his workshop circle”. Since then, she lived in Toronto, where she worked as a freelance translator and proofreader. She also worked as chief editor at an international German-Canadian newspaper, the Deutsche Rundschau. Manya was a board member of Moll Berczy house, a German-Canadian retirement home. She was an active member of Martin Luther Church in Toronto.
Manya was a devoted mother, wife, and friend. She leaves behind her children Lukas, 26, Anna, 23 and Yannik, 21, her husband Friedrich, and her sister-in-law Meta. Her friends and the community will deeply miss her.
On Saturday, February 4, 2023 we are planning to remember Manya Brunzema’s life with a bilingual worship service. The funeral service will take place at Martin Luther Evangelical Lutheran Church, located at 2379 Lake Shore Blvd West, Toronto, Ontario from 10:30 am to 11:15 am. After the service, we invite guests to remain at the church for a reception and a celebration of life from 11:15 am to 1:15 pm. The family is providing a light lunch.
Following the reception, there will be a committal ceremony at St. Johns Norway cemetery in Toronto (256 Kingston Road) at 2:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, you may donate to the Heart and Stroke Foundation (https://www.heartandstroke.ca), or Martin Luther Church (https://martinluther.ca) in Manya’s memory.
Please note that we remember Manya’s life in three segments, the service, the reception, and the interment. Guests can attend any or all parts of Manya’s funeral as they wish.
In our darkness
there is no darkness.
With you, o Lord,
the deepest night
is clear as the day.
von Taizé
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Martin Luther Evangelical Lutheran Church
2379 Lake Shore Blvd West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M8V 1B7
Tel.: (416) 251-8293 office@martinluther.ca
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Martin Luther Church Toronto is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) and partners with the Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland (EKD).
