Gerda Carol Lawson (nee Pester) passed away on April 15th, 2014 in Victoria at the age of 96 years. Gerda was born in Disley, Saskatchewan on January 31st, 1918 to Otto and Wella Pester. As a young woman, Gerda moved to Victoria with her sister Elsie where she began her career working at CIBC on Douglas Street (now Bill Hartley Insurance). She then moved to New York to be near her sister and newborn nephew. While in New York, she met and married Allan Lawson. They moved to Toronto and often enjoyed summers at their cabin in the Lake Country. Following Al’s passing, Gerda travelled the world to Africa, Jerusalem, Peru, New Zealand, Egypt and various other destinations around the globe. She moved back to Victoria after her retirement from CIBC. She loved flowers, especially orchids, and enjoyed tending her plants and tomatoes on her balcony garden. Like her mother and sisters, Gerda was a superb seamstress. She sang beautifully and was a gifted pianist. Gerda was proud of her many nieces and nephews, and always looked forward to hearing what was happening in their lives. She believed in the strength and power of God, and was thankful for her many years of good health.
Gerda was predeceased by her husband, Al; her siblings, Fred Pester, Ed Pester, Elsie Baker, Martha Walker and Johanna Munro; her niece, Charlotte Welch and nephews, Glenn Baker and Floyd Pester. She leaves to mourn her nieces, Laurie Munro, Marlene Hogan and Gretchen Herman, and her nephews, Matthew Baker, Russell Baker, Douglas Munro, Robin Walker, Wesley Walker, Brian Walker and Vern Pester. Special thanks to the staff at Parkwood Court for their wonderful care and support. A celebration of her life will be announced later this spring. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to charity of choice. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mccallbros.com.
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Berit Werner from Germany
We take part in the death of Gerda Carol Lawson. Because of family tree researches, we have found this obituary. After the death of my grandfather Siegfried Pester, we have found some letters, which was written from Otto and Wella Pester from Disley in Canada to Otto´s family in Germany. So we asume that there is a family relationship between the family of Gerda Carol Lawson and my family.
My mother´s name is Renate Werner (nee Pester). Her grandfather was Adolf Pester, the brother of Otto Pester. My family is still living on the farm in Burstädt, formerly Göppersdorf (Germany), where Otto Pester grew up. We would be very happy to hear something from the family of Gerda Carol Lawson. If you want to take in contact with me, please write an email to: berit_werner99@hotmail.com. Thank you so much.