Lillian Leona Pelser

1914 – 2002

Lillian Leona Pelser entered this world on August 10, 1914 in Septre, Saskatchewan.  She left it on Wednesday, April 24, in the Boundary Trails Health Centre.  She is survived by her sister Esther, and husband, John Elias; bother Leonard and wife, Anne; soster-in-law Gwen Pelser, wife of Eric: sister-in-law Olavia Pelser, wife of Arthur; sister Ruth and husband Abe Hildebrand; and thirteen nieces and nephews and their families.  She was predeceased by her mother, Katherine Pelser nee Leiding; father, Julius Pelser; brother Eric Pelser; nephew Lorne Hildebrand, and brother Arthur Pelser.

Lillian was baptized in the Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church on May 16, 1937.  This expression of her faith continued throughout her life in her deeds and in her belief.  Lillian was the oldest daughter in the family of Julius and Katherine Pelser.  Lillian grew up primarily in Winkler and worked very hard helping her mother raise her sisters and brothers and maintaining the household.  As she grew up she went to work as a maid in the Mason district and in homes in Altona and Winkler.  Closer to home she worked in the poultry plant in town.  The job she loved most was working at Mary’s Dress Shop where, for many years, she enjoyed the contact with the public, her friendship with her employer, and the work itself.

Lillian was a nurturing presence in the lives of her brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews; in many ways a surrogate grandmother to so many of them.

There are many images of Lillian that show the breadth of her presence in the family; birthday cards mailed faithfully, delicious baked brown bread, roasted chicken cooked over the woodstove, portzelje on New Years Day, the smell of pine needles simmering on the woodstove, the pride of her flower garden, her passion for fine craft and especially knitting, and her fondness for doing Jumble puzzles.

We remember Lillian for the pleasure and care she brought to our lives.  A soul has left us, but not entirely, for a touch of it lingers in all who knew and loved her.

Home At Last

We are all God’s children

From the morning hour of birth;

He lets us live and laugh and love,

And have our day on earth;

He guards us through the afternoon

Till sunset’s rays are cast,

Then one by one,

With gentle words,

He calls us home at last. 

The family would like to thank Wiebe Funeral Home, Winkler, the Boundary Trails Health Centre Staff, the Salem Home staff and all who supported the family during this time.

Funeral service was held on Saturday, April 27, 2002 at 11:00 a.m. at the Bergthaler Mennonite Church, Winkler with Rev. Menno Janzen officiating.  Interment followed at the Winkler Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba.

Wiebe Funeral Home, Winkler in care of arrangements.