Live streaming of the chapel will begin at 10:45am, the service is to start at 11:00am. To view the service live or afterwards, please visit: https://funeraweb.tv/diffusions/19009
Gerda Berta Emilie Wessler was born on June 28, 1938 in Mothalen, Ostpreußen, Germany to Emil and Berta Drews, who owned a farm. Gerda was the first in the family of 4 children. She enjoyed life on the farm and being big sister to her two brothers, Lothar and Manfred. In January 1945, the Russians were advancing, and Berta was forced to flee with her three children and Emil’s father by horse and wagon west towards the Hamburg area in Western Germany. The young family were refugees at a farm near Hamburg, but chose to leave again because the Russians were given that area to occupy after the war. Berta moved her family to Lemwerder, outside of Bremen, where they waited until Emil was released as a Russian prisoner of war in 1946. They were able to grow some of their own food there. The children started school, having to walk to a ferry, cross the river, then take a train to their school in Bremen. The family attended the Lutheran church near Lemwerder, where Gerda was confirmed. In 1952, Gerda became big sister yet again to Waltraut, whom she helped care for and loved dearly. Gerda was able to attend a secretarial school in Bremen and eventually to work at an insurance agency as a secretary. The family saved money to book a passage to Canada on the Castel Felice, and in June of 1955, they left
for North America. She turned 17 on the ship, and the crew had a birthday party for her.
After arriving in Quebec, they travelled across Canada by train and settled in Vancouver. Gerda was able to find work and help support the family, working in a variety of jobs, eventually landing a position in the accounting department of British Pacific Life Insurance. At one of her sewing jobs, she befriended Inge, who introduced her to the Wessler family; soon after, she met Inge’s brother Norbert, and they fell in love. Gerda and Norbert were married on September 22, 1961. Norbert’s job required several transfers to different areas in B.C., including Penticton, Victoria and Burnaby, where they eventually settled permanently. Andreas was born in Penticton in 1964, and Corinna was born in Burnaby in 1967.
The young family enjoyed many large family gatherings on both sides and yearly road trips to the Oregon Coast. They were very involved in Immanuel Baptist Church as the children were growing up. Gerda was always very hospitable to numerous visiting German relatives. She also loved to host parties, family events and Andreas’s and Corinna’s friends from church and school. She had a gift for sewing and made clothes for the children, herself and her family. She enjoyed cooking and baking, collecting and trying new recipes. She always had an eye for beauty and decorated her home with style: beautiful flowers and vases were often on display. Gerda was an avid reader, often reading into the dead of night. In 1989, Gerda sustained a head injury from an accident and took a year off work to recover.
Her career had continued in accounting/payroll from after her marriage until retirement from Telus in 1999. In retirement years, Gerda and Norbert spent many enjoyable visits with their grandchildren, Tristan and Tahlia from Corinna and Vaughn; and Cora, Verena and Ari from Andreas and Michelle. Travelling continued with many cruises and trips around the world, covering 5 continents, especially with their friends, Kuno and Irma Dreger. Despite gradual dementia over the last 15 years of her life, Gerda continued to value time with her grandchildren, all her siblings and families, and always wanted Norbert to know that he was the love of her life. Her faith remained strong, and she always believed in God’s faithfulness and love for her. On Saturday, October 24, 2020, she went home to be in the arms of her Savior, Jesus.
Breit aus die Flügel beide,
O Jesu, meine freude,
Und nimm dein Küchlein ein!
Will Satan mich verschlingen,
So lass die Englein singen:
Dies Kind soll unverletzet sein.
Amen
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Gerda’s name to Gideon’s International. You may donate online at https://gideons.ca.
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