Obituary of Edna Welker

<h1>Edna Welker</h1> (nee Holzworth) March 31, 1924 – April 10, 2009 Praise God that after suffering from a series of lengthy illnesses, Edna died peacefully in her sleep on Good Friday morning after a courageous battle with colon cancer. A breast cancer survivor from the 1960’s, she faithfully completed her Canadian Cancer Society forms each year to assist them in their research. Born on March 31, 1924 near Elmira to Oscar and Edith Holzworth (nee Grosz) she made her confirmation vow to the Lutheran Church in 1938 and remained a faithful member. She married Stephen Welker on July 17, 1946. She was a devoted caregiver to her husband until his admission to the Village of Winston Park where he still resides. Edna was predeceased by her parents and brother George. The Lord gave her the finest, the highest, the deepest and the fullest measure of love and she returned that love in manifold ways to her husband, her children, her family, her friends, her church and her community at large. She will be sadly missed by her daughter Marlene (husband Allan Haehn), her son Ron, and the joy of her life granddaughter Meghan (partner John Cox). Her godchildren are Wayne Weber, Katherine Boettger, Douglas Holzworth and Vaughn Kraemer. Edna’s volunteer work has included holding offices in the Redeemer Lutheran Church Ladies Aid and the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, the Waterloo Horticultural Society, and the Garden Club of Kitchener-Waterloo. Rev Vuorinen of Redeemer referred to her as “the flower lady” for the years that she arranged flowers for the church altar and for numerous church functions. Her special joys included trips to Europe and Japan, attending the World Flower and Garden Festival in Bermuda as well as in Toronto, and becoming a life member of the Garden Club of Kitchener-Waterloo. Her friend Fern Kraemer said that there were three daughters in the Weppler family but there were four sisters and Edna always appreciated her sisterhood. Two of her son’s friends lost their own mothers and Edna was glad to “adopt” Nancy Wigdor and Cheryl Fogel. Many thanks to them both for coming from Toronto regularly to take her to dinner and see her in the hospital. Many thanks to a very special family physician Dr. Ay-Ling Wang and to Drs Knight, Fortin and Keleher of Grand River Hospital. A special thanks is extended to PSW Kim and the Community Care nurses who visited her in her apartment and to the Canadian Cancer Society volunteers who helped her. Special thanks are also extended to Dr. Donna Ward and the nurses and staff at Freeport Hospital who cared for her from January 2009. The outstanding care and attention from volunteer Nan McBride as well as daily visits from special cousin Bernice Dostall kept the smile on Edna’s face from fading. Edna derived a great deal of strength and encouragement from regular visits by Rev Robert Krestick (Redeemer Lutheran Church) as well as from listening to Rev Mark Lewis’ sermons (St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church) on Sunday television. Friends are invited to share their memories of Edna with her family during visitation at the Erb &amp; Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King Street South from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm Wednesday, April 15, 2009. The funeral service will be held at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 78 John Street West, Waterloo, on Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 11 am with Rev Robert Krestick officiating. A reception will follow immediately after the funeral. Internment will take place at Memory Gardens. In lieu of flowers, condolences for the family and donations to Redeemer Lutheran Church, Canadian Lutheran World Relief or to the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre may be arranged through the funeral home at www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445. In loving memory of Edna a donation will be made to the Trees for Learning program by the funeral home.