Esther BEFUS

BEFUS, Esther Lydia (Bitz)
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 (Befus), her great- granddaughter, Amanda Janette Oke, her parents Christina (Neumueller) and Jacob Bitz, four sisters and six brothers. She is survived by her daughter Carol Joan Dieterman (Befus), her son-in-law (who she loved like a son) Koert Dieterman, her brother Gus Bitz, five grandchildren, Barb Oke (Terry), Paul Dieterman, Barry Graw, Denise Kamieniecki (Wayne), Keith Graw (Arlene), and six great-grandchildren, Ashley Carleton (Steve), Courtney Oke, Kalinda, Slayde and Vegas Kamieniecki and Koert Graw. Esther was born on the family farm in South Western (Sandy Point), Sask. As a young woman she worked in Carbon, Alberta and Calgary, where she met her husband Adam. They married on April 4, 1942 and raised two daughters. After 58 years of marriage and the passing of Adam in 2000, she moved to Fruitvale, B.C., to be with her daughter and son-in-law. Her final years were spent in Columbia View Lodge, Trail, B.C. Esther was a friendly and helpful lady who was deeply loved by her family and everyone who knew her. Esther has been cremated and a Memorial Service was held in the Trail Alliance Church, Trail, B.C. There will be a Memorial Service held in the Mausoleum Chapel, in the Queen's Park Cemetery, 3219 - 4 Street N.W., Calgary, April 18, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. with Interment next to her husband in Queen's Park Cemetery. As an expression of sympathy, donations in Esther's name would be appreciated to either the Recreation Therapy Dept of Columbia View Lodge, 2920 Laburnum Drive, Trail, B.C., V1R 4N2 or to the Trail Hospice Society at Suite 7, Kiro Wellness Center, 1500 Columbia Avenue, Trail, B.C., V1R 1J9.