January 19, 1931 - March 20, 2022
In Loving Memory ~
Gerda Posner, loving wife, mom, grandmother, and great grandmother passed away peacefully in the Campbell River Hospital on Sunday, March 20th.
Born in Ottendorf Germany, she is predeceased by her son Matthew and grandson Jodi.
She is survived by her husband Ed, daughter Karen and son Chris (Jane). Grandchildren Kelsey (Kyle), Nicole (Patrick), and Ethan. Great grandchildren Nolen and Sophie. Gerda also had 1 sister and 4 brothers who remained in Germany, Gerda being the eldest.
Gerda lived through some traumatizing and difficult times in her younger years. Living in East Germany under communism and Russian occupation, she was evacuated from her home, endured bombs, and experienced malnutrition. It must be because of that she became an amazing cook, never wasting an apple off a tree and always having two freezers stocked with food.
Gerda and Ed met in Zeitz Germany when they were both attending school, beginning a long journey together. They escaped from East Germany to the West and settled on the outskirts of Munich. Here Ed worked at the American Airport and they raised chickens. This was some of the first nutritious food she had in years. However, after going without food for so long, she became quite sick. They had their first-born son, Matt, in 1950. Ed's brother, Eric, immigrated to Canada and soon Ed, Gerda and Matt followed. They came to Vancouver and then on to Campbell River in 1955, expanding their family.
Gerda was small but she was tough. She worked alongside Ed building a construction business. She would hammer left-handed beside Ed, come home to make meals, and tend to their children. She was an amazing seamstress, making clothes for the kids out of her own clothing.
Being an adventuresome couple, Gerda and Ed travelled extensively. They were well known for hosting parties at the cabin at Miracle Beach. Everyone looked forward to Gerda's marinated pork, delicious salads, and desserts. She would always be feeding people lunch with a pot of soup on the stove, and she was famous for her incredible baking. The cookie tin was never empty.
Everyone had their favourite item that she gladly baked. She valued her family and friends deeply and everyone felt her love. She will be sorely missed.
We would like to express our deepest gratitude to all the VIHA staff that cared for mom over the last year. There are too many to name individually, but friends made and lots of banter was had. She loved to tease and be teased.
A service will be held on Saturday March 26th at Bethany Lutheran Church.