SUNDAY, February 18, 2018

Eliza Herle

May 21, 1921 ~ February 9, 2018

A. Eliza Cecilia Herle (nee Fieger), our beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 9, 2018, at the Edith Cavell Care Centre, in Lethbridge, AB. Eliza was born on May 21, 1921, in Schuler, AB.  A few years later, her family moved to Prelate, SK., where she attended school at St. Angela’s Convent, an experience that started her lifelong passion for music and education.  Eliza married Peter Anton Herle in 1944 and they lived on two farms outside of Prelate before moving into town. While in Prelate, Eliza was active in the Prelate Hospital Auxiliary and Home and School Association, serving a term as President of each and attending regional and provincial meetings.  In 1967, Eliza went back to school as an adult, completed her Grade 12 and the family moved to Saskatoon where she completed one year of Teacher Training.  When the family moved back to Prelate, she taught Grade 3 for two years before moving to Medicine Hat, AB., where she taught junior high at St. Mary’s. Through many years of summer school attendance, she completed a B. Ed. Degree from the University of Calgary.  Eliza retired from teaching in 1980 and in 1986 after joining the Ursuline Associates, she spent six months in Zimbabwe as a lay missionary.  Eliza often referred to her time in Zimbabwe as among the most important work of her life. Back in Medicine Hat, She resumed her volunteer work on the CWL executive, in the church choir and as Eucharistic Minister for 10 years at the Teoda Lodge.  She was extremely proud of her nearly 50 years of membership in the Catholic Women’s League. Eliza loved to complete large needlework pictures, crochet and knit dresses, including work with clay as well as painting many beautiful pictures. She entered her art work in the Medicine Hat Exhibition for several years and won a variety of ribbons.  Eliza also participated in several pottery shows, preferring to create porcelain pieces trimmed in gold.  Several of her large crochet pieces have been donated to St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in Medicine Hat and a needlework piece to Covenant Health – St. Joseph’s Home.  In 2007, Eliza moved to Lethbridge to live with her daughter Annette;   in 2013, she moved into Columbia Age Care and in 2017, moved to Edith Cavell Care Centre.  Everywhere Mom lived, she endeared herself to the staff with her quick wit and ready laughter and was noted for always singing. She was often referred to as the ‘singing grandmother’.  Eliza was predeceased by her parents, Anselm and Catherine Fieger (nee Aberle), her husband, Peter; her twin brother, Peter Fieger; her brothers, Louis and Alois; her sisters, Alena Selinger and Betty Kuntz; her brothers-in-law, Alec Herle and Pius Kuntz; sisters-in-law, Cassie Fieger, Audrey Fieger and son-in-law, Nicolaas Nieukerk. Eliza is survived by her six children; Lucelle (Lee) Prindle, Jerome (Diana) Herle, Annette Nieukerk, Damian (Glenda) Herle, Rosemarie Ledet and Carolyn Herle (Louise Odland).  Eliza was the proud grandmother of eight grandchildren: Aaron (Shannon) Thompson, Jeremy (Rona) Thompson, Sasja (Neil) Chomos, Jess (Erika) Nieukerk, Nicole (Lars) Gauthier, Ian (Lindsay) Herle, Meghan Bissonnette and Laura Bissonnette;  and a very proud great-grandmother to Salma Nazira and Areli Nieukerk, Jayden and Joelle Thompson, Lexi and Zoe Thompson, Madden and Emmy Gauthier, Davin and Eli Herle and Annica Chomos. She is also survived by her brother, Ignatius Fieger and sister-in-law, Marie Fieger along with numerous nieces and nephews who loved her dearly.  Eliza’s funeral service will be held in March to allow time for the family to gather. Vigil Prayers will be recited at Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, 901 – 13 Street S.W., Medicine Hat, Alberta on  March 16, 2018 at 7:00 p.m.  The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, 238 – 2 Avenue N.E., Medicine Hat, Alberta on March 17, 2018 at 10:00 a.m.  If friends so desire, please consider a donation to the Catholic Women’s League or a charity of your choice. Honoured to serve the family is Cook Southland Funeral Home.

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