Eva Ernewein (Hirsch), our beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and friend passed away at Royal Inland Hospital on Monday, August 6, 2012 at 97 years young.

Eva was born in a farmhouse in Kingsford, Saskatchewan on July 5, 1915, the fifth of eight children. Eva was not given a middle name because she was not expected to survive. In 1936, in the midst of the Great Depression, she married George Ernewein and, with their friends Lil and Earl Eckhart, they bought a small farm on the river in Heffley Creek. In the fall of 1937, Eva and George arrived with a suitcase, eleven dollars and each other. When she discovered they had moved to a small farmhouse with dirt floors and chickens living inside, Mum said she sat down and cried. But she then set to turning it into a home. Wilma, Eileen, Gordon and Sharon were born while they lived there, and in 1959 the family moved to the current home in Heffley.

Mum was known for her friendly and welcoming nature. She had scores of friends and even the children called her Eva. She made the best roast beef and gravy and apple pie. Her buns were so legendary that at bazaars they would be sold out even before they arrived. Her garden and flowers were always a pleasure for passersby and she could be seen outside with the hose for much of the summer. Mum always had a chocolate bar for the grandchildren or a Ginger Ale for their sick tummies (a Pepsi would do in a pinch). She loved to play cards and looked forward to her Tuesday crib games and enjoyed going to the casino when she had a chance. She was a founding member of the Heffley Creek Ladies Club (which was started to help with the war effort) and the Heffley Creek Community Hall. There was always a houseful at the annual Christmas Eve Celebrations after Mass, and many garden birthday and anniversary parties.

Eva was predeceased by her husband George in 1988, parents, Mathias and Magdalena Hirsch, brothers and sisters, Pete, Annie, Emily, Matt, Dean, and Henry, and numerous sisters and brothers-in-law.

She is survived by her children: Wilma (Don) Collins, Eileen (Orville) Wiscarson, Gordon (Bev) Ernewein and Sharon (Alan) Dodd; her grandchildren Greg (Ruby), Teresa (Craig), Brent (Shanna), Kelly (John), Braden, Carey (Amanda), Stacy (Jessica), Jenny (Julien), Tim (Michelle) and Anna; great grandchildren Jesse, Riley, Justine, Sydney, Danielle, Brandon, Emma, Taya, Blake and Mason; sister Rose Hirsch, sisters-in-law Chris Hirsch and Frieda Hirsch as well as many nieces and nephews.

She dearly loved her family and we in turn loved her.

Thanks to all who participated in her medical care, especially in the last 7 weeks, and for your support to our family.

Monsignor Jerry Desmond will be leading a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, August 13 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated in the Cathedral on Tuesday, August 14 at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery.

A reception will be held at 2:00 p.m. in the Heffley Creek Hall.

Should friends desire, donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, 203 - 635 Victoria Street, Kamloops, BC V2C 2B3 in her memory would be appreciated.

Condolences may be expressed at www.schoenings.com

God saw you getting tired
when a cure was not to be
so he closed his arms around you
and whispered, "Come to Me"
He took you to his garden
And laid you there to rest,
God's garden must be beautiful,
He only takes the best.

Service arrangements entrusted to Schoening Funeral Service, 250-374-1454.