Erna Maria Hutchings

Erna was born October 18, 1927 to Matilda and Valentine Becker in the Berezina District of Saskatchewan, and died peacefully December 15, 2019 at the age of 92 years, in Esterhazy.

Erna grew up in a family of ten children on a farm just outside Churchbridge.  After high school, Erna moved to Regina, took a course in business admin, and worked for Chrysler Corporation. She then moved to Saltcoats to work at the bank. It was there she met Fred Hutchings. They were married in 1951 and were together 67 years.

Erna was a loving wife, mother and grandmother, who delighted in the accomplishments of her family and never missed a birthday celebration or important family event. She was a very hardworking woman with a gentle and beautiful soul, who was an avid gardener and loved nothing more than to be  tending her flowerbeds. Her pies of every kind were the best ever. She stayed at home to raise her children and worked for the Bank of Montreal in Esterhazy from 1974 until her retirement in 1984. She was a longtime member of the Order of the Eastern Star, and an avid curler with a competitive streak, and valued very much all the friendships that developed from these activities. She was a long  serving volunteer with the care home auxiliary. She and Fred enjoyed cross-country skiing on their farm. She loved music, nature (especially hummingbirds), and cheering on the Blue Jays. The family cottage at Round Lake held a special spot in her heart. She welcomed any chance to travel and see new places. Erna’s faith was very important to her. She was raised in the Lutheran church and became an Anglican when she married Fred. She was a lifetime  member of the Anglican Church Women and the Altar Guild. When lay services began at St. John’s she was a frequent lay leader until her health declined.

Erna was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2015 and resided at the Centennial Special Care Home in Esterhazy from January 2017 until the time of her death. The family would like to thank all the staff at the care home for the care, support and kindness shown to Erna.

Erna is survived by her loving husband Fred, son Greg (El), daughter Val Johnson, grandsons Nicholas (Alana) and Zachary Johnson, daughter Jan Besse (Randy), grandsons Bryn (Roxanne) and Sean Besse, son David (Jaki), grandson Josiah, brother Erwin (Lillian), nephew Mic (Hope), and numerous nieces and nephews in Canada and the US. She was predeceased by her parents, brothers, sisters and in-laws Ron (Freida), Wally (Charlotte), Mandy (Eddie), Nita (Hubert), Sylvia (John), Elsie (Bill), Hilda (John), Marv (Herb), (Bernice), Kay, Connie (Howard), Cecelia (Jim), Joan (Gypsy), niece/nephews Gloria (Harvey), Rod, (Carmen), dear mother-in-law Ethel, and son-in-law Garry.