Mennonite
Historical
Society

of Alberta

PENNER, Esther

1

September 23, 1936 – Rosenfeld, Manitoba
March 10, 2019 – Calgary, Alberta

Esther Penner of Calgary, AB, Mom of Tom, Randy, and Roseanne, died on Sunday, March 10, 2019 at the age of 82. She had more lives than a cat but even those had to run out eventually.

When Esther Penner was born into a large Mennonite family in a one room farmhouse in Rosenfeld, MB, on September 23, 1936, who would have thought that she would become the greatest pie baker of all time. Her baking skills also extended to buns (white buns if you please. None of that whole wheat garbage!) Our Mom was happiest in the kitchen with flour scattered on the front of her skirt sharing her baking treats with her family.

Esther is survived by her three children, Tom, Randy (Joanna Szajer), and Roseanne (Bob Betteridge); five grandchildren, Michelle, Brittany (Josh Hillier), Oliver, Lewis, and Lorenzo; three great-grandchildren, Jase, Emmett, and Gunner; two sisters, Teenie Funk and Helen Nickel; also numerous nephews and nieces.

Esther was predeceased by many siblings but most importantly by her husband Abe, whom she would tell you until her dying breath was the most amazing husband in the world.

We will not be having a funeral service but we invite you, in your own time, to cut yourself a generous piece of pie (banana cream was one of her specialties) and remember our Mom.