ERNA WICHERT (JAEK)

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ERNA WICHERT (nee JAEK) After a long, exhausting battle with cancer, Erna passed away peacefully at home with her family by her side. Erna was born in Wladislawow, Poland on March 8, 1935, and died in Winnipeg on January 27, 2003. She is survived by her husband Horst, her daughter Andrea Johanna and son Paul Daniel; sisters, Lily Foubert (Ken), Margaret Damnjanovic (Peter), Renate Blobel (Ed) and Marta Heimann (Gerhard) brothers, Dr. Karl Jaek (Andrea), Eric Jack (Erika), Wally Jack (Frieda) "Mutti" Lydia Jaek; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends in Canada and in Germany. Erna was predeceased by her mother Johanna and father Gustav Jaek; infant brother Arthur; her first husband Werner Jess; and his parents, Herbert and "Special Oma" Charlotte Jess. In 1951 Erna immigrated to Canada and started work at the Canadian Bank of Commerce, Main and Alexander branch. She held various positions and took time out in 1968 to raise a family. She then volunteered at Dieppe Elementary School and later worked as a technician in the Charleswood Medical Clinic. She took library sciences courses, learned French and having qualified as Library Technician, worked in several school libraries within the Assiniboine South School Division No. 3. Erna loved best her job at Ecole Tuxedo Park from which she retired in 1998, only to return as volunteer in the library until her sickness made that no longer possible. Erna practised lifelong learning, taking various courses, keeping up with computers and technological changes in the schools, and upgrading her language skills. She created the first Home Page for Ecole Tuxedo Park. She was generous with her time and respected and loved as a mentor to others in the school system. Her training in banking and accounting and organizational skills served her well in her term as treasurer for the Assiniboine South Non-Teaching Employees Association. She taught Sunday School at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church for many years and was responsible for producing the Sunday church bulletins. She was active in womens study and prayer groups, in committees and as assistant in worship and in many unnoticed services behind the scenes. After retiring she helped organize the book collection for the Manitoba Hydro Electrical Museum. Erna loved her family, her home and large yard, the birds and even the wild animals who ruined her garden. She enjoyed bowling, walks in Assiniboine Park and at Fort Whyte, reading, her pet cat, symphony concerts, trips to Grand Forks, and Prairie Public TV. Cremation has taken place. A Lutheran Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, February 6 at 2:00 p.m. in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church, 4588 Roblin Blvd., Charleswood, with Pastors Leon Gilbertson and Glen Krentz officiating. The parking lot entrance is off Grant Avenue. Thanks for graciously sharing your more roomy church with us. Thanks to Drs. Lotocki, Krepart and Heywood and staff of CancerCare Manitoba and the staff of HSC Womens Centre W5. Special thanks to Patti Findlay and the members of the Cancer Support Group, and all who supported Erna and her family with calls, prayers and casseroles. No flowers, please. In lieu, donations may be made in Ernas memory to CancerCare Manitoba, 675 McDermot Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, or to the Pipe Organ Fund of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 637 Buckingham Rd., Winnipeg, MB R3R 1B9, or to a charity of your choice. WOJCIKS ALL BELIEFS & FAITHS FUNERAL CHAPEL & CREMATORIUM 897 - 4665

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 05, 2003