Tribute

On Monday, July 16, 2018, Mrs. Emma Roest of Penticton passed away peacefully at the Hamlets at the age of 85 years. It is comforting to know she is now with Roelof , the love of her life. Mother and stepmother to 8 children, Hubert (Michelle), Angela (Chris), Russell (Karin), Hendrika (widow: Marcel), Henry (Alice), Margaret, Brenda (Dave) and Connie (David), with 10 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren (with 2 more on the way). Her greatest joy was being surrounded by her family.

She was born in Romania, to Friedrich and Katharina Schuett, the youngest of 5 children. When WWII began, her father and 3 brothers were all taken away to fight in the war for Germany, which left her with her sister, aunt and mother to deal with being thrown off their land. They eventually, and with much difficulty, made their way to Bad Wimpfen, Germany and where, amazingly, her whole family was reunited within a year of the war ending.

Emma emigrated to Canada and settled in Calgary with her first husband and oldest child, Hubert in 1954. In 1964, after 10 years of hard work as a seamstress, she launched Emma’s Upholstery, which she operated very successfully until she retired to Penticton in 1981.

She met and married Roelof (Ralph) Roest in 1977. We became a blended family. Emma and Ralph both loved and encouraged us to succeed; we learned the meaning of hard work by their example. Their advice has helped us make good lives for ourselves and our children.

Summers were spent with grandchildren for countless weeks or holidays. However, they always had a plan to enjoy each other after summer was over. Winters were spent travelling south for a few years as snowbirds to Yuma, Arizona, where they made many friends with their kind, outgoing manner. She will be missed by everyone that knew her.

Thank you to Dr. Kilian and the staff at The Hamlets at Penticton for their dedication and compassion.

A private service will be held at a later date.