Obituary of Luella Rosamund Peters

Luella Rosamund Peters, May 20, 1933 - September 8, 2023

With sadness and joyful memories, we announce the passing of our much loved wife, mother, sister, grandma and G-G. She went home to be with her Lord and Saviour at 11am on Friday, September 8, 2023, at the age of 90.

Luella (Lue), a loving and devoted wife and mother, is survived by her husband Henry (Hank) Peters, sons Doug (Sharon) Peters and Howie (Shannon) Peters, grandchildren Rachel Peters, Mark Peters, Darren (Amy) Peters and Colin (Amanda) Peters, great-grandchildren Kieran, Declan, Elliot, Rowan and McKinley, brother Richard (Thelma) Unruh and sister Darlene Klassen. She is predeceased by sisters Grace, Nina, Sadie, and Joyce, and brothers Victor, Ben, Jasper, Wilfred, Gilbert, Roy and Ray. She also leaves behind a large number of nieces and nephews, with many of whom she corresponded until very recently.

Lue was born May 20, 1933, in Waldheim, Saskatchewan, to Henry and Aganetha Unruh, She was the 13th of 14 children, some of which had left home before she was born. Her childhood was a poor, but happy one, lived out on various farms in rural Saskatchewan, weeding in the garden, herding cows barefoot or, with her sister Darlene, pulling kittens around the farmyard in a wagon. Evenings consisted of playing games or reading, and sometimes watching the northern lights and listening to them crackle.

Lue was a shy child in school and church. However, she was asked to join the church choir at age 12. She then sang through her teens in duets, trios, and even solos for the choir. This love of music and singing stayed with her, and she sang in choir and a travelling group at Millar Bible School, and in the Fairview MB Church choir for many years. She also sang for years as a member of the Sacredaires gospel octet, at various local and regional concerts, on a mission trip to South America, and on several recorded albums.

Lue’s father, a cheerful man who “whistled while he worked”, was very special in her life, and she recalled being devastated and lost without him when he got very sick and died within a week or so when she was 12 years old. Lue’s mother was a hard-working and conservative woman with whom mom had a close relationship despite the physical separation.

As a teen, she gave her heart to Jesus and was baptized at Salem Church, where she attended with many close school friends. Lue later spent 2 “amazing” years at Millar Bible School. She made many friends there and kept up with one close friend, Mabel Todd, until very recently.

Lue met the love of her life, Hank, in St. Catharines and they married in August 1956 on an eventful, rain-soaked, muddy day. They honeymooned in Banff, and settled back in St. Catharines. While Hank worked long shifts driving transport trucks, Lue did most of the work of raising 2 boys, getting them to clubs, music lessons and sports, and making many decisions. She also took a variety of jobs, many of which involved reception, sales and customer service, most notably with Lincoln Home Appliance Centre.

Lue always loved engaging with children and felt called to share the love of Jesus with them. Besides teaching Sunday School for many years, and leading Pioneer Girls Club, she held a Kids Bible Club at her house on George Street in St. Catharines for neighbourhood children. After school, up to 15 kids would come by and Lue would give them a cookie and a drink and teach a Bible lesson. Her church involvement extended beyond children and included ‘English Cafe’ and the women’s ‘Time Out’ group.

Lue, with Hank, lived at Tabor Manor apartments until now, finding joy with grandkids and now especially the great-grandchildren, supporting and engaging with many mission organizations and individual missionaries, attending church (mostly online), engaging with friends and enjoying drives in the countryside and meals out at various restaurants where the staff could put their orders in when they saw them coming.

The funeral service will be held at Tallman Funeral Home, 3277 King Street, Vineland, on Tuesday, September 12th, at 3:30 pm. Visitation will be held at Tallman Funeral Home on Tuesday, September 12th, at 2:30 pm, prior to the funeral service. A private interment will take place at Pleasantview Cemetery in Fonthill prior to the visitation.

The funeral service will be livestreamed. To view the livestream, at the time of the service please click HERE

Memorial donations may be made to Northend Church.  The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the Supportive Housing staff at Radiant Care (Tabor Manor) going above and beyond to help Lue, and for the compassionate and attentive care of the 4A team at NHS St. Catharines.