ERNA ALMA PETERS

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

ERNA ALMA PETERS Erna Alma Friesen was born on January 20, 1914 in Rush Lake, SK the seventh child of Martin and Nettie Friesen. She loved school and anything to do with learning and trying new things. She went to University and Normal School in Winnipeg for her teachers training. She worked as a door-to-door salesperson and also proof-reader at the Winnipeg Free Press to support her way through school. On March 27, 1938, she married Ed (Erdman) Peters. Erna started teaching the following fall and Ed worked on the railway (summers only at that time). They lived in the Mason and Winkler School Districts. In 1942 they moved to Homewood, MB permanently and built a home there. Two years later, their daughter Grace was born, and two years after that their son Gordon completed their little family. Erna taught in Hopeland, Greenway, Broad Valley and then in the Carman High School for 18 years. Also during these teaching years, Erna used most of the summers to take courses and obtained her Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education, Master of Education degrees and a Principals Certificate. She was not lazy and loved to learn. Erna retired from public education when she was 61 and wondered, "now what?". Then she took her Bible College training by correspondence courses and she also studied Greek. Ed passed away in August of 1978, with cancer. Erna sold the home place and in February of 1979 went to Liberia and Kenya to teach. On the way home from Africa, she visited missionary friends in Zambia, Malawi, South Africa, Thailand, Taiwan, Macau and Hong Kong. After coming home from Africa, she visited all her family and then came to live in Dawson Creek for a year or two. While there she taught Sunday School, worked in the church office and did what her hands found to do with all her might. Erna then moved to Pickle Lake, ON and taught in the First Nations Bible College there, then she pastored in Fort Severn and Sandy Lake, ON for brief periods, until a First Nations pastor was found for those reserves. She then moved to Winnipeg where she was a counsellor for 100 Huntley Street for a number of years, and also occupied her time teaching Bible Studies, Sunday School, working on her family tree information, and writing texts for the Bible Studies that she taught. She attended Evangel Chapel for 10 years, then moved to Agape Villa and attended Agape Chapel during her last two years in Winnipeg. In August of 1999 she moved to Dawson Creek to live with Grace and Lorraine. She remained with them until a unit became available at Peace River Haven in Pouce Coupe, BC. She was utterly content. When asked how she felt about her residence, and after reviewing what was available there for her care, she would say, "What more could I ask for?". Other than for memory loss, Erna was quite healthy until April of this year, when her health began to fail, and then she suffered a devastating stroke on June 24. She was in the Dawson Creek Hospital until her departure for heaven on July 23, 2004. Ernas heart was always for Missions. She wrote to well over 100 missionaries individually by hand once or twice a year for many years (before the days of computers and copiers and email). She supported missionaries, prayed for them and encouraged others to do the same. She was an incredibly caring mother, setting a steadfast example of integrity, honesty and faith in the Lord. Erna went Home to be with Jesus on July 23, 2004, Dawson Creek, BC. She leaves to mourn her daughter, Grace Peters of Dawson Creek, BC; son Gordon (Helen) Peters of Winnipeg; granddaughter Lynn Peters of Winnipeg; grandson Paul (Veronika) Peters and one great-granddaughter Estella Grace Peters of Sydney, Australia; dear friend Lorraine Fladager of Dawson Creek, BC; sisters-in-law, Tina Friesen of Stonewall, MB, Helen Friesen of Morden, MB, Esther Giesbrecht of Salmon Arm, BC, Louise (Mac) Yoos of Olds, AB and Jean Peters of Brandon, MB and many nieces, nephews and good friends. Erna was predeceased by her loving husband, Ed Peters on August 14, 1978; her parents, Martin (1942) and Nettie (1963) Friesen and all her brothers and sisters, William Friesen (1984), Edward (Margaret) Friesen (1957), Sara (Henry) Hildebrand (1995), Alma Friesen (1913), Anne (Eugene) Giesbrecht (2001), Gertrude (John) Bateman (1972) and Jake Friesen (1993) and infant triplet sisters (1920). She will be sadly missed by all of us who knew and loved her, but we rejoice that she is in the presence of her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. at Evangel Chapel, 1073 St. Marys Rd. on Friday, July 30 with a reception following. An interment will take place in South Side Cemetery in Morden, MB. Arrangements entrusted to: GLEN LAWN FUNERAL HOME 455 LAGIMODIERE BLVD. 982-7550

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 29, 2004