Tribute

Esther was born on the Kristiansen family farm near Canwood, Saskatchewan, being delivered by a local mid-wife.
She passed away peacefully, with Family at her side, in the early hours of July 14th, at South Okanagan General Hospital in Oliver, B.C.
Esther spent her younger years on the family farm, along with her mother, father and 9 siblings. She left the farm in 1939, after marrying AaronViggo Svendsen. She moved to Osoyoos with Viggo and their young family of 3 in 1948, when Viggo accepted a position as sawyer at Mountainside Sawmill, just to the east of Osoyoos, in Christian Valley. Two additionl children were born, and over the following years, the family became involved in their own logging, sawmill and planer mill operations.
Esther spent a good part of many summers living and looking after her children near the summit of Mount Kobau, at the Svendsen family saw and planer mills located there.
Some years after Viggo”s death in 1964, she was reacquainted with an old family friend, and in 1971 she married Melvin Schelstad, and returned to Saskatchewan to live on his family”s farm near Canwood.
Towards the Fall of 1981, after Melvin retired from farming, they returned to Osoyoos to spend their retirement years closer to Esther”s Family.
Shortly after Melvin passed away in 2000, Esther moved in to the White Sands condominiums and lived there, looking after herself, until her death.

Esther was predeceased by her mother (Hanna), father (Sedvard), husbands Viggo and Melvin, older sisters Signe and Annie, younger sister Leona, older brothers Helmer and Art, and younger brothers Sigurd and Erling.

She is survived by her older sister Krystal (Alberta) and her younger sister Clarice (Saskatchewan), daughter Arlene York (Everett, Wn.), sons Verne, Sidney and Dwayne Svendsen (Osoyoos), and son Kevin Svendsen (Princeton).
Esther has 10 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.

Over the years, Esther worked as a housewife and a housekeeper. She was employed by the Osoyoos
Co-op Packinghouse for some time, and rounded out her working lifetime as a clerk, working in more than one Osoyoos business.

There were many family fishing, picnicing, and camping trips to numerous local lakes and streams in Esther”s life.
Trips back to Saskatchewan to visit Family and friends were common.
A favourite trip for her was when she accompanied her elderly father back to visit Family in his home country of Norway.
She and Melvin spent an enjoyable time visiting the Islands of Hawaii shortly after being married.
A summer trip to Alabama to spend some time with her older sister Signe was thoroughly enjoyed by both sisters.

Esther was a longtime member of the Osoyoos United Church.
She always looked forward to her Sunday visits with fellow worshippers and with her Lord.
She was a past member of the United Church”s Dorcas Unit and church choir.

Hobbies and interests included cooking, baking and seeing to it that no one who came for a visit went away hungry.
She also enjoyed walking, gardening, knitting, crocheting, reading, camping, crafts, singing and listening to music and songs, working on jigsaw puzzles and dancing.
At her granddaughter Jamie”s wedding, held in Osoyoos just prior to her passing, Esther was not only up on the dance floor, but insisting that each of her sons present, were up there with her, trying to keep up.

Esther has had a long and rewarding life.
She has had a positive and lasting influence on all of those who were fortunate enough to have met her.
She is now at peace, with Her Lord.

At Esther”s request, she is to be cremated.
A Family, graveside urn internment and committal will be held on Friday, July 27th at 11:00 a.m. at the Osoyoos Lakeview Cemetery

A ”Celebration of Esther”s Life” will take place on Saturday, July 28th at 11:00 a.m., at the Osoyoos United Church.

Family would like to Thank all of Mom”s good neighbours and friends, Dr. Tarr and the nurses and staff at Southern Okanagan General Hospital, Reverend Hershey, and Jolly Gill and her staff for all of the caring, kindness and devotion shown to Mom throughout her last years with us.

In Lieu of Flowers, Donations Gratefully Accepted For:
Heart and Stroke Foundation of B.C. (4 -1551 Sutherland Ave., Kelowna, B.C. V1Y 9M9)
B.C. Cancer Foundation (399 Royal Ave., Kelowna, B.C. V1Y 5L3)
B.C. Children”s Hospital Foundation (4480 Oak St., B321, Vancouver, B.C. V6H 3V4)

Condolences and Tributes may be directed to the Family by visiting:
www.nunes-pottinger.com