Esther passed away quietly in Calgary in October 2025 at the age of 94, leaving three children, eight grandchildren and her friends in her much- loved Quebec City. A free spirit and poet, Esther grew up in remote northern British Columbia, studied at UBC fol- lowed by the University of New Brunswick, and started raising her family in Forestville, living les deux solitudes du Québec. Esther was determined to learn French and to understand and be part of la vie québécoise in a small town. She loved to travel and experience cultural diversity. She returned to teaching later in life and taught history, English, and French from the heart.

She definitely found her wings in Quebec City, when she happened upon the ruins of Krieghoff House at the head of Avenue Cartier. Abandoned for 25 years, it was only inhabited by wanderers. A stubborn anglophone with a dream, Esther tenaciously began the near-impossible task of saving it from ruin. Krieghoff House soon became her cherished home, one generously shared with friends and family, enjoying home-cooked meals, conversations and friendship around the fire in winter and sipping white wine in her garden in summer. She also loved the outdoors: tennis, brisk walks and cross-country skiing on the nearby Plains of Abraham. She thrived on the evenings of music on the Plains, attending with her folding chair, a blanket and a friend at her side.

Intelligent, creative, generous and thoughtful, she was involved in both the anglophone and francophone communities in Quebec City and kept strong links with the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. Then she opened her heart once again when, in a seeming fairy- tale love story, Ed Pedersen, her high school sweetheart, arrived at her door to sweep her off her feet and take her back to British Columbia. Though she passed in the West, challenged with the cruel ravages of dementia, her heart and soul remained in her much-loved Quebec City.

Au revoir, chère Esther, de tes amis de Québec.

We salute you.

We celebrate a life well lived.

We welcome you back home.