Edna Gertrude Koskimaki passed away peacefully November 30, 2007, following a short illness, in the Palliative Care Ward at Bastion Place, Salmon Arm, BC, with her family by her side. Edna was born in Mara, BC, December 13, 1915, to Matthew and Stella Cadden. Her grandparents were Robert and
Minnie Coell, and William and Julia Cadden, early Mara settlers. She received her High School Entrance Certificate from Mara School, and was employed in Vernon, BC, until her marriage to Reino (Ray) Koskimaki, also of Mara, on August 25, 1937. Ray and Edna raised their three children on the farm in Mara, and moved to Enderby in 1961. Their house in Enderby was “Home” to all the family as grandchildren and great grandchildren, family and friends enjoyed many happy times there.
In addition to being a wonderful and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Edna also enjoyed gardening, leatherwork and crocheting.
She made many gifts for the family over the years. Edna and Ray were active in many circles in Enderby, and were members of the Enderby Senior Citizens Complex Society, Okanagan Historical Society, Enderby Museum and the Enderby Old-Time Dance Club. Edna moved to Piccadilly Terrace Retirement Residence in Salmon Arm in May of this year and enjoyed her time there with new and old friends, although she missed living in Enderby, and
the many friends she and Ray had made over the years.
Edna was predeceased by her sisters, Kate and Florence (Sis), and brothers, Bill and Bob. She will be forever in the memory of her husband of 70 years, Reino, at Parkview Place in Enderby, her sister Gladys Koski of Lumby, daughter Elaine (Chuck) Armstrong of Blind Bay, Daryl (Elaine) Koskimaki, and daughter Donna (Allan) Ford, all of Salmon Arm. She also will be lovingly remembered by grandchildren Sheila (Glen), Gordon (Karen), both of Chilliwack, Sandra (Allan) of Quesnel, Kelvin (Pamela) of Abbotsford, Denise (Jack) of Castlegar, Kerri of Vancouver, Renee (Leroy) of Kamloops, Rhonda (Mitsuru), Jill (Chester), Brent (Teresa), all of Calgary, and Craig of Lethbridge, 21 great grandchildren, sisters-in-law Eleanor Cadden of Vernon, Malvina Cadden of Lumby, Viola Dudley (Reino’s sister) of Rossland, and many nieces and nephews, of whom she was very fond.
The family wishes to thank for their wonderful care and compassion, the staff, nurses, and care workers of Community Care, Dr. Erasmus Bonthuys, the staff at Piccadilly Terrace, and the staff of the Palliative Care Ward in Bastion Place.
Edna was a loving, caring, person, and a shining example of how a life should be lived. She will be missed by all of us.
A Memorial Service will he held on Sunday, December 9, at the Enderby Drill Hall, on Hwy. 97 in Enderby at 1:30 PM, officiated by Rev. Will Sparks.
Reception to follow. Funeral arrangements by Bowers Funeral Home, Salmon Arm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: CT Scanner Campaign, Shuswap Hospital Foundation, Box 265, Salmon Arm, BC, V1E 4N3.
Email condolences may be sent to
sympathy@bowersfuneralservice.com
Arrangements are in the care of
Bowers Funeral Home and Crematorium,
Salmon Arm, BC.