AMY ANNETTE KRISTINA PERSSON

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AMY ANNETTE KRISTINA PERSSON (EKSTRAND / SKUNDBERG) Mom passed away peacefully at Calvary Place, on May 18, 2017, with her children, Earl and Inga Skundberg by her side. With Mom's determined and strong Viking spirit, she "hung on" to almost 90 years of age, despite numerous health issues. She was predeceased and welcomed with wide open arms into God's heavenly kingdom by her brother Clarence Ekstrand; her parents, Daniel and Alma Ekstrand; Dad, Kenneth Skundberg; and many other family members and friends. Besides her children, Mom will be dearly missed by her sisters Greta Mathewson (Nova Scotia) and Irene Tester (Calgary), sister-in-law Dorcas Ekstrand (Calgary), Skundberg family in-laws, nieces, nephews, and many friends. Mom was born September 22, 1927 in Calgary, Alberta, the oldest of four children to immigrant parents from Sweden. Mom spoke Swedish until she started school where she quickly learned English. Mom was known by her siblings as a social butterfly and being naturally gifted in school and music. After high school, she graduated with a Home Economics diploma from Olds School of Agricultural. Following graduation, she ran a record store called "Radio Crafts Record Bar" and played the piano accompanying a soloist on an on-air radio program in Calgary. She was a fabulous pianist who played by ear, and it was in being the organist at First Lutheran Church in Calgary where she met Dad, whose beautiful voice caught her attention in the church choir. They married June 17, 1950 in Calgary, and shortly thereafter, their son Earl was born. After transferring to Ottawa, Ontario, Mom worked the records department at Eatons, where she met child prodigy Paul Anka before he became famous. We lovingly recall many happy times in our home with family and friends gathered and having "sing-songs" around Mom playing either the pump organ or piano. Being a military wife, she managed dozens of moves for the Skundberg family, including postings in Europe, such as Germany where their daughter Inga was born, and then France. Mom continued correspondence to friends and relatives, including overseas, into her 80s and treasured every card and letter received in return, numbering in the thousands over the years. Mom was a gourmet cook and baker, and family and friends were welcomed to delicious meals in the dining room with a beautifully decorated table of china and silverware. Mom had a "million" cookbooks, many of Grandma Ekstrand's, who was a caterer of Swedish foods and from whom Mom learned the art of baking Swedish pastries and breads, including knäckebröd, lefse, pepparkakor and rosettes. Mom and Dad were proud of their Scandinavian heritage and were one of the first families to help establish the Scandinavian Pavilion of Folklorama in 1970, which began in the parish hall of St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Winnipeg where our family was involved for many years. Even into her 80s, Mom kept current with the news - locally, globally, and with the British Royal Family, whom she adored. Mom would send wedding and birthday cards to them and excitingly wait for a reply, which she amazingly received from Buckingham Palace each and every time. Even with very limited mobility, Mom was bound and determined to get to the mall every Wednesday, and would worry and scare the wits out of her kids when she would "fly" down Wilkes Avenue, approximately five kilometers, to Grant Park Mall, in her electric wheelchair to get her hair done, have lunch at McNally's Prairie Ink Restaurant, and shop, including purchasing "gifts" for those she cherished. "Vi älskar dig mamma". Välkommen Home. We miss you dearly and will until we meet again. For those who knew Mom, a celebration memorial service will be held at Calvary Place Chapel, 1035 Erin Street, on Thursday, June 1, 2017 at 1:30 p.m., with a reception to follow. Private interment of Mom will have taken place at Brookside Cemetery in the Field of Honour. The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to Calvary Place Care Home for its loving and compassionate care of Mom, especially to the amazing staff of 2 North. We also express our appreciation to Pastor Rick Sauer and Ron Long of St. Mark's Lutheran Church, and to Pastor Schulz of Calvary Place, for their ongoing support and ministry to our family, each of whom will be presiding at Mom's memorial service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, or the Manitoba Lung Association. NEIL BARDAL FUNERAL CENTRE 204-949-2200 neilbardalinc.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 27, 2017