January 3, 2022
On the afternoon of January 3rd 2022, at her home in Comox, Frieda Peters, passed away peacefully at age 84, due to cancer.
Frieda was born in 1937 in Einlage, Ukraine. In 1943, her family moved to Munich where her parents managed to shelter and protect her and her young brother. In 1948, they arrived in Winnipeg as war refugees, but soon melded into the Canadian mosaic.
Frieda obtained a registered nursing degree at Winnipeg General Hospital. Her marriage to John Peters in 1959 soon ended her nursing career and she became a full time housewife looking after the rearing of their three children - Gord, Eileen, and Sandra. During that period, the family made several moves, first to London, Ontario and then to Vancouver. In 1975, they embarked on a series of overseas projects in Bangladesh, Ghana, and Nigeria with Frieda actively involved in helping local women in each case.
In 1992, she and John moved to Royston. Although John continued to work on short overseas projects, Frieda mostly remained in Canada and developed a large circle of friends in the Comox Valley area. Her hobbies became gardening and quilting and she excelled in both. In 2006, they downsized to a Courtenay condo where quilting became a passion. Meanwhile her mobility continued to deteriorate until she was using a walker. In 2017, breast cancer was treated with a mastectomy and radiation.
In 2018, they moved into a condo apartment in downtown Comox. This proved timely because a year later she fractured a hip and became wheelchair dependent. Simultaneously, her cancer reappeared, and she was enrolled in palliative care. Radiation and hormone treatments slowed the cancer's progress and drugs provided pain relief, allowing her to maintain a good quality of life in her home. Visits with family were always appreciated, especially with her five grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Her Comox Valley friends were important. Her card group used the dining room weekly, and her quilting group met for luncheons in the golf course restaurant next door. Covid limited some social activities, but she dealt with these restrictions in a positive way. Visitors always remarked on how well she looked!
The family thanks the many doctors, especially Dr. McLaughlin and Dr. McCallum, nurses, and care workers who made Frieda's life more bearable. We are grateful for the MAID program which allowed her to die on her terms.
The family requests no flowers be sent. Instead, if you wish, please donate to the Canadian Cancer Society. That would please Frieda!