On Thursday, March 24, 2011 Agnes Cecelia Poelzer passed away peacefully in Salmon Arm at the age of 87 years.

She was born in Humboldt, Saskatchewan on November 21, 1923 to Michael and Elizabeth Poelzer. She came from a family of 12 children, including Angela Desmond (deceased), Jerome Poelzer and Arnold Poelzer all of Kamloops. She devoted her life to the church, first as a Sister of St. Joseph of Peace and then the Sisters for Christian Community. She worked in Washington, Southern B.C., Alberta and Yukon.

Prayers will be recited on Friday, April 1, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. The Reverend Father Peter Nguyen will celebrate the Mass of Christian Burial at the church on Saturday, April 2, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery.

Schoening Funeral Service in care of arrangements. Phone 250-374-1454.

The following was prepared by Agnes

Sister Agnes Poelzer, SFCC
(Sisters for Christian Community)

I entered my earthly life on November 21, 1923, and my eternal life on March 24, 2011.

I give thanks to God for giving me parents of deep Faith: Michael and Elizabeth (Hinz) Poelzer. They were parents who taught their children about our Faith by word and example.

I give thanks to God for my sisters and brothers and their spouses: Rita and Ken Wiederholt (both deceased), Sister Zitamarie (Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace), Mildred and Leo Lisowski (Leo deceased), Sister Irene Poelzer (Sisters for Christian Community), Arnold and Theresa (Gurski) Poelzer, Jerome and Lillian (Moldenhauer) Poelzer (Lillian deceased), Raphael and Kathleen (Elliott) Poelzer, Sister Dolores Poelzer (Maryknoll Sisters), Charles Poelzer (deceased), Angela and Tim Desmond (Angela deceased), and Bernard and Cecile (Weldage) Poelzer. We learned from our parents how to live a joyful, happy and simple life.

I give thanks to God for the irreplaceable support and unconditional love given me by our extended family during the last months, weeks and hours of my earthly life. I was greatly comforted when by brother, Bernard, kept prayerful all-night vigil at my bedside during my last days.

I give thanks to God for the loving care I received in the last sixteen months of my life from Interior Health Care workers: Donna, Doris, Sue, Charlotte, Caroline, Karen, and all those whose names I do not remember but whose loving care I will not forget. I thank Nurse Mern and those who did the scheduling for their gentleness and help, including that given to my primary caregiver, Irene.

I give thanks to God for Father George, Pastor of St. Joseph's parish in Salmon Arm, who came many times to attend to my spiritual needs while I was in palliative care.
I give thanks to God for Dr. Bell and Dr. Gervais who took care of my health problems over the years with great expertise, care and compassion.

I give thanks to God for every person who walked briefly or for long periods of time with me in my life's journey. I trust that God will care for them in a most loving way. If I have injured anyone, who has walked with me, I ask their forgiveness. And, if anyone has injured me, I give them my forgiveness.

I give thanks for God for a peace-filled passage to eternal life. Great is Your infinite love for me. I will glorify Your Name forever.