Brigitta “Omi” Margarete Fortner 85 passed away peacefully at home on Jan. 31, 2013. She was born Oct. 26, 1927 in Leipzig Germany to Kurt & Margarete Nienhagen. She immigrated to Montreal Canada around 1955, met her first husband and by 1958 had moved to Vancouver BC, Canada where her daughter Yvonne was born.

In 1972 she moved to Oak Harbor where she married George Fortner. She loved to cook and bake German Stollen and Kuchen, read romance novels & was an expert seamstress. She employed her sewing talents during the years her & her husband owned Island Cleaners.

Brigitta is survived by her daughter Yvonne Van Cleef of Oak Harbor (husband Bill), her grandchildren Vincent Van Cleef (Puyallup), Johanna Van Cleef (Honolulu) & her beloved dachshund Maxie. Brigitta’s family would like to express their deep gratitude to Lorrie Campbell of Mount Vernon and Heather Guerra of Oak Harbor who provided the best care and companionship. Her ashes will be interred with her parents in the Maple Leaf Cemetery. A memorial service will follow at a later date. Condolences may be left at whidbeymemorial.com. Memorial donations may be made to Oak Harbor WAIF.