October 23, 1914 - March 15, 2013
Our dear "little Mom" has gone home to be with Jesus.
Esther was predeceased by Adam, her husband of 58 years; her daughter Sharon Louise Graw; her infant great-granddaughter, Amanda Janette Oke; her parents Christina (Neumueller) and Jacob Bitz; her brothers Jacob Bitz, Philip Bitz, Johnny Bitz, Ray Bitz, Albert Bitz and Art Bitz; her sisters, Annie Hertz, Minnie Schlaht, Bertha Hahn and Martha Job.
She is survived by her daughter Carol Joan Dieterman (Befus); her son-in-law Koert Dieterman (who she loved like a son); her brother Gust Bitz; her grandchildren, Barb Oke (Terry), Paul Dieterman, Barry Graw, Denise Kamieniecki (Wayne), Keith Graw (Arlene); her great- grandchildren, Ashley Carleton (Steve), Courtney Oke, Kalinda, Slayde and Vegas Kamieniecki and Koert Graw.
Esther was born in South-Western Saskatchewan, and grew up on the family farm at Sandy Point, Saskatchewan. As a young girl she worked in Carbon, Alberta and then moved to Calgary where she met her husband, Adam. They married April 4, 1942. They raised their daughters there and after 58 years together, after the passing of her husband, she moved to Fruitvale, B.C., to be with her daughter and son-in-law. Her final years were spent at Columbia View Lodge, Trail, B.C.
Through her married years she was a housewife. Her garden and flower beds were her pride and joy and the envy of the neighborhood. She also loved baking and the proper recipe of her famous chocolate cake has yet to be discovered. She loved her grandchildren and great- grandchildren dearly and had a great relationship with all of them. After Adam's retirement they enjoyed travelling by bus tours in the U.S. and Canada and enjoyed seeing Disneyland, Vegas, Reno, Hawaii and Alaska.
Esther will be cremated and a Memorial Service will be held at the Trail Alliance Church, 3365 Laburnum Drive on Wednesday, March 27 at 1:00 pm with Reverend Ken Siemens officiating. Following that, she will be taken to Calgary to be buried next to her husband at the Queens Park Cemetery following a service in the chapel there. Jordan Wren of Alternatives Funeral and Cremation Services™ has been entrusted with arrangements.
Heartfelt thanks to Dr. E. McCoid for her loving and compassionate care and to the staff at Columbia View Lodge for making Mom's last home a comfortable and loving one.
As an expression of sympathy, donations in Esther’s name would be appreciated to either the Recreation Dept. of CVL at 2920 Laburnum Drive, Trail, V1R 4N2 or to the Trail Hospice Society at Suite 7, Kiro Wellness Centre, 1500 Columbia Avenue, Trail, V1R 1J9.
You are invited to leave a personal message of condolence at the family’s online register at www.myalternatives.ca