Obituaries

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of our dear Mother, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother after a courageous battle with stage 4 lung cancer.

Mom was born in Innisfail Alberta on August 1, 1937 to Lee and Doris Griffith. Mom worked as a telephone operator at AGT. While in Innisfail, she met the love of her life Ernie Viercant at the Blue Bird Diner Cafe which still stands to this day. They were married August 17, 1955. They traveled to Turkey to follow dad’s career with GSI Oilfield Company and then returned back to Canada in 1958 and took over his dad’s family farm just outside of Rycroft.

In 1959, Karen was born, followed by Dianne in 1961, Gail in 1962 and finally their last daughter Valerie in 1965. Farming was Mom and Dad’s great joy and were so proud to have raised the family there. In 1994, Mom lost the love of her life, our Dad to a heart attack and Mom remained on the farm until January 2003, when Mom built herself her new home in Rycroft where she resided until her passing.

Mom was so proud of her 9 Grandchildren; Kimberley Dreger (Jim Stephen), Leeann (Brent North), Karly (Mike Cole), Kenton (Madison Dreger), Channelle (Devin Zaichkowsky), Landon (Stephanie Deley), Leah Wells, Justin Berg (Stacey Schindel), Aftin (Dustin Livingston) and 13 Great Grandchildren Ryleigh, Avery, Claire, Nolan, Hadden, Lincoln, Merrick, Blakely, Brooks, Ava, Austin, Karis, and Traysen and another Great Granddaughter due in April.

Mom leaves to mourn her 4 loving daughters, who will miss her dearly; Karen (Leon) Dreger, Dianne (Dave) Deley, Gail (Brodie) Wells, and Valerie Berg. Her loving Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren. She is also survived by her two sisters Joyce (Stan) Fox and Betty (Willie) Wilkie. Along with many nieces and nephews.

Mom was predeceased by her loving husband of 38 years, Ernie, her parents, Lee and Doris Griffith, her in laws Harry and Violet Viercant, Brother Kenneth Griffith, sister and brother in laws, Lillian and John Nedohin, brother in law Aleck Anderson, Betty and Leonard Sales and Evelyn and Leslie Werle.

Her Sunday afternoon teas, gingersnaps and toffee will truly be missed. Love you Mom; you are in our hearts forever.

As per Mom’s wishes there will be no funeral. A private family graveside service will take place this summer. A special thank you to Dr. Danae Wolfaardt and Dr. Eva Kitagawa of Central Peace Health Centre for their care and compassion for Mom over the last year and Unit 22 nursing staff of Grande Prairie Regional Hospital for their care and compassion over the last 10 days.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mom’s memory to the Central Peace Health Complex Auxiliary (cheques made payable to Central Peace Health Complex Auxiliary Club and mailed to Box 866 Spirit River, Alberta T0H 3G0) or the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital (gphospitaldoundation.ca), or a charity of one’s choice.

Care entrusted to Bear Creek Funeral Home 780-830-7742 bearcreekfuneral.com