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Edna Hiebert

Edna Hiebert

Hiebert, Edna – September 20, 1922 to June 20, 2015

Edna May Hiebert (nee: Coates) passed away peacefully on June 20, 2015 at the Swift Current Regional Hospital (Saskatchewan) after a brief illness.

Edna will be most remembered by all for her generosity, willingness to make room for another whether it be a place at the table or a place to sleep, a mother figure to tell your troubles to, her ability to feed many with what little she had, homemade soups, stories and having an incredible and sometimes wicked sense of humor, memory for detail, her knitted socks and dish rags, having an adventurous spirit, her passion for bingo, for having a soft spot for the underdog who needed a little help up, her zest for life and most of all of the obvious joy it brought her to be surrounded by her family.

In spite of becoming an orphan when she was very young girl, expected to earn her keep, having had a limited education as well as living during a time when women of the poor working class had no rights and merely expected to cook, care for their husbands and bear children she faced her many life challenges with strength, courage and amazing resiliency. She loved to sing and dance, fish as a young woman and it brought her so much joy to watch birds for hours on end. Prior to moving into a care home she would sit at her kitchen window watching the world from her little view; neighborhood children on their way to school, everyday traffic, neighbors comings and goings, her rock garden, the swing for two her husband, Erd built, the robins and even her feral cats which she took great pleasure in feeding. She was thoroughly entertained when her family took her driving up and down streets of a city or town, down a back road or a route not previously travelled. Edna never had a licence to drive a motor vehicle so when she purchased a scooter for herself she found she loved the freedom it gave her to explore, to show up and surprise one of her kids. Her spirit for adventure didn’t deter her from taking the unknown path either although at times she needed to be rescued by one of her sons…thank goodness she was up with the times and had a cell phone.

Edna was not an educated woman however she was a natural entrepreneur and liked to be busy. As the story goes, Edna unknowingly prompted the beginnings of Lee Lam’s Confectionary on Railway Street in Swift Current, Sk when she innocently decided to help her neighbors by keeping a few extra provisions on hand that they could purchase if/when needed and had to be informed that what she was doing was actually a business. When She was living in Yellowknife, NT and raising her family in order to earn extra money she washed and ironed clothes for miners, cooked for miners, sold cameo paints and at one time even tried her hand at selling a line of clothes. She also made various knitted, embroidered or craft items which she sold. She joined the Royal Canadian Legion’s Ladies Auxiliary where she soon found herself running the regular weekly bingos, the Friday night meat raffles and the Saturday luncheons that were held. She also joined the Legion Dart League which she thoroughly enjoyed, won a trophy or two and made many close friends. Her most prized entrepreneur venture was a Dickie Dee ice cream business that she bought into with her son, Richard right here in Swift Current. She was so proud of that ice cream truck and the bikes used to sell her wares and boasted that her business allowed her to purchase a home for herself in Swift Current, that it paid her bills and even allowed her to play bingo at Junction Square Bingo Hall where she had made many friends.

In her final days, she spoke to her daughter, Rose about not being ready yet and needed at least a few more years as she still had lots to do, that she wanted to see all her darling children and with mothers love and pride she told her “they are my children no matter who or what they are and I love every one of them”. Unfortunately, having lived with COPD for at least three decades, a stroke and some recent health complications her body was tired and not able to keep up to all that she still wanted to do.

Edna is predeceased by her first husband, Cornelius Kroeker who was killed in action in Italy (December 22, 1943), husband Lam Lee (January 17, 2000) , her husband Erd Hiebert (February 15, 2004) and her grandson DJ Hiebert (March 12, 1978). She will be forever loved, dearly missed but never forgotten by her six sons Danny Kroeker (Gloria), Jack Lee (Louise), Richard Lee (Johanne), Bill Lee (Debby), Jim Hiebert (Kathy), Randy Hiebert (Tammy) and her two daughters Val Kozenko-Hiebert (Bob) and Rose Slade (Jeff) as well as many nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Prior to her cremation, a viewing/wake was held at Warrens Funeral Home in Swift Current, SK the week of June 22 to 26, 2015 for those who wished to pay their respects and bid her farewell. The family would like to apologize however, there will be no funeral services planned. Instead. Her family has chosen to celebrate her life by organizing a homecoming, an annual event that brought her so much joy as her family gathered.

Memorial Donations to the Dr. Noble Irwin Healthcare Foundation, Scholarship Fund, the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Saskatchewan Lung Association would be appreciated by Edna’s family. Warren's Funeral Home were entrusted with the arrangements. For further information call 306-773-8831 or 1-800-267-6606 or visit our website at www.warrensfuneralhome.com and express your sympathy to family members in our book of condolences.

 

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