Esther Naumenko

The family of Esther Naumenko sadly wishes to announce that mom left her earthly body in the early morning of January 18, 2023 at the age of 85. Mom was predeceased by her loving husband, Peter in 2013.  Dad’s only instruction to his children before he passed was to look after mom, which was our absolute pleasure during the last 10 years of her life.

Esther met Peter, a Saskatchewan farmer on vacation in British Columbia, on January 9, 1963. By July they were engaged and then were happily married in October! They spent the next 49 years of marriage farming, raising their three children Leta, Cy and Ian, and eventually settling in Vernon, BC as owners/operators of the family business, Okanagan Church Supplies & Health Foods, started by Esther’s’ retiring father, Otto.

Mom & Dad were very involved not only in their business, but in their church, Emmanuel Baptist. Mom played the organ and piano for services, she enjoyed singing and being a Sunday school teacher while dad was a deacon. In later years, mom volunteered with the Ambassadors for Christ and with the Salvation Army, helping to bring church services and entertainment to local retirement and nursing homes.

Mom was quiet, private and kind, and always had a smile on her face that everyone noticed. She loved to garden and hike, had a variety of crafts on the go and as another hobby, also taught herself to play the flute, harmonica and the ukulele. During her later years, while living at the Silver Springs Seniors Community in Vernon, mom was nicknamed “Radio Esther” by staff and residents due to her reliable, daily singing down the hallways while on her way to the dining room for meals.

The family would like to say thank-you to the staff and doctors on the 7^th floor at Vernon Jubilee Hospital and to Sharron, Wendy and Nicole, our amazing care team. Also special thank-you’s to the many angels at Vernon’s Hospice House for their wonderful care during mom’s time there. Many thanks also to the management and staff at Silver Springs Seniors Community for their love and support and for providing use of the Country Kitchen for mom’s Celebration of Life that was so well attended, both in-person and virtually by family in other provinces.

Esther will be missed and remembered by her daughter and son-in-law, Leta and Mal, her son and daughter-in-law, Cy and Sue, her grandchildren Xander, Isaac, Vivian & Dax, and her son and daughter-in-law Ian and Bea, her grandchildren Catalina and Savannah.

Be goody mom!

Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to Pleasant Valley Funeral Home,

Phone: 250-542-4333

Condolences may be offered at www.pleasantvalleyfh.com