MALAGASH – It is with great sadness that we, the family, announce that Erna Jost (Schmidt) passed away peacefully with her family at her side at the Halifax Infirmary on the evening of Dec. 3, 2008. She is survived by her daughter Ellen, son Hans Christian and his wife, Karen, and grand-daughters Christiane and Matina, as well as her niece Marianne Bertelsen (Denmark). Erna was born in Roskilde, Denmark on Sept. 2, 1926 as the youngest of three sisters (Ellen and Inger). She grew up in a loving home where celebrations, food and joie de vivre were the order of the day. At the age of 14, she developed tuberculosis and spent the next three years in a sanitorium. She met her husband, Hans in 1959 and they were married in 1960, when she moved from Denmark to Germany and started their family. In Germany, Hans and Erna owned and operated a winery and vineyards in the Rhine Valley. They moved their family to Malagash in 1970 to start up a new life of farming. But soon the call of the grape became impossible to ignore and they founded Jost Vineyards in Malagash in 1983. Hans W. died in 1988 after having seen the winery become a success. Sadly, Erna lost both her sisters within that year but she continued to embrace life and flourish. She loved to obsessively listen to opera and classical music, especially CBC 2. Cooking wonderful food, puttering in her garden and entertaining friends and family brought her great joy. She was an avid traveler and enjoyed attending yoga and Tai Chi classes. She was a member of the Tatamagouche and Area Singers until a few years ago. She moved to Melville Heights in 2007, spending her summers in her beloved home in Malagash. Moving to Melville Heights was yet another new adventure for her and an opportunity to make new friends. While there, she discovered an as-yet-untapped talent when she took up watercolour painting. Erna was always an optimist and a “can-do” person. Her glass was always half-full. Despite her lung problems, she lived her life to its fullest and appreciated every day. Special thanks to Dr. Michael Glasgow, Dr. Debra Morrison and recently Dr. Delva. As well, many thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff at the QE II Emergency Room, ICU and 8.4. A celebration of Erna’s life took place on Saturday, Dec. 6 at the St. John’s United Church in Wallace. Rev. Connie MacNamara officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Nova Scotia Lung Association or the Lillian Fraser Memorial Hospital Fund would be appreciated. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Mundle’s Funeral Home, 204 Water St., Pugwash (243-2506). Private condolences can be sent to the family by visiting www.mmcfunerals.com.