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Esther H. BAKER

August 4, 2006

Esther H. Baker (nee Zurowski) went peacefully to be with our Lord, with her family by her side on August 4, 2006. Esther was born on June 4, 1925 in Pilot Butte, Saskatchewan to Austrian/Turkish immigrants, Rudolf and Caroline Zurowski. She is survived by sons Emery and Jack, daughter, Trish and her husband Chris; grandchildren Laurie, Matthew, and Derek; great-grandchildren Michael and Shelby; great-great-grandchildren Jamie and Keylan and numerous nieces and ­nephews. She was predeceased, 10 days before, by Ernie her husband of 61 years; their first infant son; her brothers Frank, Chris, Oswald, Harold, and Emil; and her sisters Amelia (Millie) and infant sister Ida.

Esther came to BC when she was one year old when her family bought a dairy farm on Sumas Prairie. She went to school at Upper Sumas Elementary and high school at Philip Sheffield. Shortly after meeting this nice young friend of the family, she eloped with Ernie in 1944 on her brother's Harley. They tried their hand at farming but chose a little more adventure. For 10 years, they lived in highway construction camps. Ernie worked for Emil Anderson Construction in the Fraser Canyon, Squamish and the Island Highways. Esther kept busy taking care of Emery, and nephews Lance and Alan. Ernie and Esther then retired from the camp life and ran a small store and gas bar on Sumas Prairie. They soon built and ran their own corner store on Ware and Bevan for many years. Ernie and Esther were then surprised by the birth of their daughter, Trish, 15 years after Emery was born and then were surprised again 2½ years later with the birth of their last child Jack. After the store, Esther worked as a home support worker for several years and then as a school crossing guard for Community Services for 15 years.

Esther’s hobbies included knitting, quilting, gardening, canning and volunteer baking. Esther spent a lot of time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She traveled to Hawaii several times with the family, Eastern Canada and California. Esther had a large extended family for which she always had time for. Anyone who visited their home, were very well fed.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am, on Friday, August 11, 2006 at Trinity Lutheran Church on Gladwin Road. Pastor Karl Keller will be officiating. For anyone wishing to pay last respects to Esther, there will be a visitation time at 9:30 am before the service. A Christian burial will follow at Hazelwood cemetery. Refreshments will be served after the burial at Ernie and Esther’s home.

Many thanks for everyone’s good wishes and help during this difficult time. Special thanks to all the wonderful nurses, caregivers, rehabilitation workers, Chaplain Beverly, and doctors at the Menno Hospital palliative care.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to BC Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Wagner Hills Farm.

Funeral arrangements by Wiebe and Jeske

604-859-5885



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