Obituary of Elfriede Vontso

Elfriede Vontso (nee Vanase), beloved wife of Dr. Valfrid Herbert Vontso, passed on peacefully in her sleep on July 29th, at the Saint John Regional Hospital after a brief admission, from Turnbull Nursing Home, where she had resided with her husband since March 2007. Prior to that she was cared for at the Loch Lomond Villa since 2002, visited daily by her husband. Born April 7, 1912 in Tallinn, Estonia she was predeceased by her parents Jaan and Marie (Lamp) Vanase in Estonia, sisters Salme and Ilme (in childhood) and brother Herbert (who died a prisoner of war in Siberia), also granddaughter Karine ‘Kari’ Alyssa Covert in Saint John. Surviving are sister Lydia Meister of Brampton, Ontario, daughters Kersti (Bill) Covert of Saint John and Helvi (Tom) Price of Jackson, Mississippi, USA, grandchildren, Drs. Liara, Cristina and Sabrina (Dan Woo) Covert, and Keltie (PJ Maxwell), Devin and Eden Thomas and nieces and nephews. She attended Tartu University and graduated in Pharmacy. Upon arriving in Saint John in 1954 she worked at Cameron’s Drugstore before settling in East Saint John where her husband was a physician specializing in Tuberculosis at the Saint John Tuberculosis Hospital until his retirement. Elfriede met her husband at age 19 on the train to University and they were married in 1935. During the Russian Invasion of Estonia in 1943 she with her husband and two small children, had to flee from Estonia. With courage and fortitude, facing many difficulties their travels took them from East Germany to West Germany and in 1949 to Australia through Italy and the Suez Canal. Elfriede always stood by her family and surrounded her children and husband with support, love and understanding. She was proud, stoic and strong in her values, and creative as a seamtress and in weaving in her younger years. Also she became a member of the ValCartier Chapter of the IODE. She will be missed by all in her family, some of whom celebrated her 95th birthday in April and gathered to celebrate her 72nd Wedding anniversary this month. The family invite friends to join them at Brenans Select Community Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row (634-7424), between 1:00 until 1:45 pm to then proceed to Fernhill Cemetery for prayers at the graveside at 2:00 pm, Thursday, August 2, 2007, as wished by the deceased. Pastor Tom Graham, of Hope Lutheran Church, will be officiating. There will be no visitation. Special thanks are to be given to all the nurses, LPN’s and caregivers who provided excellent care at the Turnbull Home, Loch Lomond Villa and the staff of 5CN of the Saint John Regional Hospital. She was especially appreciative of all that was done for her. Drs. John Bewick, Winston Lee, Bob Webb and Steve Willis did their best for her for which we are grateful.