BEHRENS, Erna
Erna Behrens was born in 1912 in Germany. She was the oldest of six children and the last to pass away.
Erna immigrated to Canada in 1953 with her husband Diedrich and three of her four boys. The entire family worked a sugar beet farm in Kipp Alberta. The family then moved to Vauxhall Alberta. Erna and Diedrich then homesteaded in Valleyview Alberta until their retirement. From there they moved to Wyndell BC in 1970, where they remodeled an old house. They sold the house and followed their son Hans Dieter and his family to Osoyoos in 1972.
Diedrich died in 1984 and Erna decided to get her drivers license at 74 years of age. She put many miles on her 1974 Chevrolet van, as she was not one to sit and let life pass her by. When she was 90 Erna had to give up her van and driver’s license, prompting her to move to Hope to live with Hans Dieter and his wife Anne Marie.
Erna moved into the Fraser Hope Lodge after an incident robbed her of the joys of stair climbing and daily walks. While at the Lodge, Erna took part in bingo, bowling, trivia games and anything else that struck her as entertaining.
Erna enjoyed time with the Lunch with the Bunch group, the Golden Agers and the McDonald’s Coffee Crowd. She attended all her functions in her hot rod silver electric cart.
Erna died April 2, 2009 at the Fraser Hope Lodge. She passed away peacefully from cancer and we suspect maybe a bit of old age too.
Erna was predeceased by her husband Diedrich, her sons Martin and Hans Dieter and her grandson Gary.
She will be greatly missed by her two surviving sons Henry and Werner, four daughters-in-law, twelve grandchildren, twenty two great grandchildren and one great, great granddaughter.
A memorial service will be held at the Grace Baptist Church on May 20, 2009 at 1:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Auxiliary to the Fraser Canyon Hospital Life Enrichment Fund would be greatly appreciated.
To forward condolences to the family by email please send to: condolences@mountainside funeralhome.com.