April 3, 2020
Our mom passed away peacefully into the presence of her loving heavenly Father on Friday, April 3, 2020. Born in Hepburn, SK, she was the eldest of 6 children. She lost her mother at the age of 3 1/2 and gained a wonderful stepmother a few years later. She moved to Abbotsford with her family in 1939. As a young girl, she worked on her family farm, picking berries, milking cows, and helping to clear stumps off of their land.
After grade 9, she worked in the kitchen at the local hospital and then went to Bible School. She married Abe Esau in 1955, and in 1957, they bought a farm in Chilliwack, which they worked together until they retired.
Church was always an important part of our parents' lives. In their early years they served at the chapel in Laidlaw. Later, she and Dad served together as deacons, care group leaders, and Mom was also the treasurer of the Women's Ministries. They supported missions throughout their lives. She is fondly remembered as hardworking, an excellent seamstress, a great cook, a caring and compassionate person who had the gift of hospitality.
Her pantry and freezers were always full of vegetables and fruit from their garden, as well as baking and casseroles, ready to feed whoever stopped by. Her love of learning was evident throughout her life, especially in the area of computers and bookkeeping.
She always had time to listen, play games and host regular family events. She leaves behind her children: Gord (Wendy), Harv (Shirley), Dorothy (Larry Jantzi), Marilyn (David Koetsch), Ron (Veronica), sixteen grandchildren and six great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Abe, her parents and a brother.
The celebration of life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to http://www.acop.ca project #562 (Ron and Veronica Esau serving in the Middle East), Multi-Nation Missions Foundation - chrisjwiens@gmail.com (Janice Esau serving in the Dominican Republic) or MB Missions.