Tribute

Frieda Hutton slipped peacefully away early Boxing Day, 2011 after a lively family gathering in her honour on December 24th. She was pre-deceased by her husband Chester in 2008, her parents (Anna and Theodore Bastian), 5 brothers and one sister. She leaves her children Jamie (Marian), Bev (John) and Brenda (Fred), 5 grandchildren (Jamie, Leigh, Mike, Katie and Kelsey) and 4 great grandchildren (Elias, Esme, Linden and Livia). She is also survived by her three sisters (Elsie, Olga and Hedy) and many nieces and nephews.
Frieda Bastian was born on June 16, 1917 in a small German village in the Ukraine and immigrated to Canada with her family in 1928. After originally settling in Eatonia, Saskatchewan, they re-located to Oliver in the late 1930’s. Mom’s gratitude for her Canadian citizenship was a constant theme throughout her life. She joined the Canadian Women’s Army and was posted to Aldershot, England during WWII where she spent some of the most adventurous and enjoyable years of her life. She was one of the last “CWACs” to return home, processing papers for war brides crossing the Atlantic. Her framed 50 year Legion pin hung proudly on her wall in Sunnybank.
She married Chester Hutton on August 26, 1947 and they commenced the task of transforming rocks and sage brush into the green, productive oasis that became legendary in our large, extended family. It has been the site of innumerable visits from a broad group of family and friends. The Hutton’s reputation for hospitality and generosity was prodigious and no one left hungry (God forbid) or empty handed.
Mom was an exceptionally hard worker. As well as her home and farm duties, she worked for many years in local packing houses, predominantly the Oliver Co-op where she became the first female packing foreman in the Okanagan. During the same time, she and Dad developed the original Gallagher Lake Campsite in partnership with their good friends, Mary and Doctor Ball. In addition to the work and laughs shared between the four friends, they developed close relationships with returning patrons which they maintained for many years.
Mom was a charter member of the Oliver Hospital Auxiliary, a volunteer at Sunnybank Bingo for 13 years, and one of the founding members of her beloved St. John’s Lutheran Church. She loved singing and belonged to the early Oliver choral group directed by Harold Ball. She was an excellent knitter and regardless of how busy her day had been, most evenings were spent with needles flashing and colourful, 100% wool socks emerging. Fishing was another passion and in their later years she and Dad would join Vic and Sadie Gregory and head to the hills in their matching trucks and campers (they got a deal when they bought two together!) where they fished, played cards, drank rum and ate peanuts, not necessarily in that order.
Mom was an extraordinary woman whose focus was faith, family and friends. She was a steady point of reference for her children, grandchildren and many nieces and nephews in whom she took an active and enduring interest. She provided an ear, a shoulder or a lap to anyone who needed her. Her home and garden were a great source of pride and she took pleasure in sharing the fruits of her labour. Her reward was the abiding love and esteem of her family and friends, reflected in the many acts of kindness extended to her as she aged.
We would like to thank Nunes-Pottinger for their professional help, the wonderful staff at McKinney Place and Sunnybank for their patient and loving care of Mom, the health team at Main Street Medical and Mom’s particular favourite, Dr. Clouatre. We are also grateful to the numerous friends and relatives who brightened Mom’s life with their loyal visits, cards and gifts.
In lieu of flowers donations to Sunnybank would be appreciated. We would also welcome memories shared though the Nunes-Pottinger tribute website: www.nunes-pottinger.com
A memorial service is planned for late spring, when the flowers are blooming.