Skip to content

Edna Gaal

March 27, 2003

Edna Gaal (nee Allercott) passed away on March 27, 2003 in Williams Lake. She was born on January 17, 1942 in Penticton, B.C. to Edward and Mabel Allercott and was the sibling of three brothers and three sisters.

It was in Penticton that Edna met the love of her life, Ernie. After many dates of movies, dances, and corn roasts, a wedding took place on December 8, 1961 and the reception held on the SS Sicamous boat in Penticton. This wonderful marriage would last 41 years.

Shortly after marrying, Edna and Ernie made the move to Williams Lake. They had their first child, Carrie, in 1963 and another daughter, Cindy, in 1967. There was a very sad time in 1965 where they lost a baby boy. He was laid to rest in Penticton.

Edna was always involved in something every moment of her life. She spent many years on bowling teams and even made it to the B.C. Games one year. Unfortunately, this meant much dusting of trophies for her daughters. There were also a lot of years volunteering time with Brownies and Girl Guides. It was nothing to see a tent set up in the back yard and a bunch of girls running around working on badges. Edna enjoyed it so much that she continued on even after her own girls had finished.

There was always a craft happening in the house. The last 15 years, Edna ran a ceramics shop in her basement. Her finished pieces were sold at many craft sales in Williams Lake and Penticton and some ended up as far away at Europe. She also volunteered at the Senior Centre to help do ceramics.

Baseball was a favourite of Edna’s; this enjoyment had her joining the Senior’s baseball team for a couple of years. In the summertime, you would always find Edna and Ernie camping and fishing at a local lake and always with an extra kid or two.

When the three grandchildren came along, it was always a battle to try and get them away from ‘Nannie and Papa’s’ house. The battle being with both Edna and the kids. She would have had them moved in, had she gotten her way. This lasted, of course, only until they started their teenage years. Then Nannie felt the parents should enjoy them more.

Edna worked at the Slumber Lodge for 15 years and also worked with the Jubilee Care home for a couple. At the Jubilee Care Home, Edna learned sign language and also went on an exciting trip to Disneyland with the group. One of the jobs at Jubilee was to show the kids how to help clean. One day Edna was showing one of the boys how to do laundry. He thought it was so wonderful that he started going into the other rooms and bringing back clean laundry for them to do. This was found out only after a few loads had been done, of course.

Edna lived a very love-enriched life and shared it with so many. She will be missed deeply. Ernie, Carrie and Mr. Bill, Bill, and Taylor and Cindy and Bryon want to give a very heart-filled thanks to everyone for all the prayers, hugs, cards, flowers, food and for bringing up so many wonderful memories. It’s all of this that is helping us to get through this difficult time. Also, a thank you to all the nurses, especially Terry Moe, who made those last few minutes with our Mom and wife peaceful and a little bit easier.

As per Edna’s wishes, she was laid to rest in Penticton alongside her family. She is predeceased by baby boy Gaal, her father Edward Allercott, her mother Mabel Allercott, and sister Evelyn Allercott. She is survived by her husband Ernie, daughters Carrie (Mr. Bill) McGinnis, Cindy Gaal, grandchildren Bill (Jr.) and Taylor McGinnis, and Bryon Gaal, brothers Frank Allercott, Bryon (Darlene) Allercott, Percy (Linda) Allercott, sisters Carol Shaw, Lee Brewster, and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.




Your condolences will be approved within one business day. You will need a valid Facebook account. Please email us if you have any questions.