Eva (nee Dyck) Somers

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our mother, Eva, at the Bethany Personal Care Home in Airdrie, Alberta. Eva is survived by her sister Agatha, four of her six children – Dianne Little, Elaine Thompson (Ian), Beverly Somers, and Harold Somers (Cheryl) as well as her daughter-in-law Gail van Reede and son-in-law Barry Rose, She is predeceased by her husband of 44 years, William Robert (Bill) Somers in 1995; her oldest son Robert (Bob) Somers in 1999; her second oldest daughter Linda Rose in 2012; her son-in-law Jim Little in 2003, her grandson-in-law Tim Glasser in 2022 and a baby daughter who died at birth in 1959.

Eva leaves to mourn seven grandsons – Alfred Smith, Clinton Bryan (Jackie), Jason Bryan (Jody), Adam Somers (Natasha), Paul Rose (Erin), Jeff Somers and Chris Somers. Seven granddaughters – Angela Kuchma (Paul), Jennifer Bennett (Jason), Denise Little (Ken), Amanda Armishaw (Max), Rebecca Pattison, Ashley Somers (Taylor) and Allison Somers. Fourteen great-grandchildren – Mason (dad Alfred), Kelcie, Sydnie, adopted grandson Brendan and Marissa (dad Clinton), Keegan, Megan and Janessa (dad Jason), Carlie and Dakota (dad Paul), Isabelle (dad Adam), Zander and Willow (mom Rebecca) and Lillian (mom Amanda). Seven great-great grandchildren – Lex, Terrax and Maddox (parents Megan and Jesse Mallas); Spencer, Olivia and Scarlett (parents Keegan and Toni Bryan); and Jack-Jack (mom Carlie Rose). Eva also had numerous step-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren and step-great-great grandchildren through Adam, Angela, Amanda, Denise and Elaine’s blended families.

Eva was born in Duval, Saskatchewan to Elizabeth and Peter Dyck. She was the seventh child in a family of ten children. As a child growing up on the family farm Eva was expected to look after the farm animals, help in the family sawmill, help bring in the crops, and learn "women's work" in the home. Eva left home at a young age (13 or14 years old) to go work as a domestic servant in the home of Professor Britnell. This practice was the custom for some Mennonite girls at the time. It was there that she learned what she called the “English” way of life, compared to her Mennonite upbringing. Eventually Eva moved to Manitoba and began work in the restaurant business where she met her future husband, Bill. They were married on January 10,1951, at the Somers family farm north of Carman, Manitoba. Since Bill had a son from a previous marriage, Eva became a stepmom to five-year old Bob. Together the little family of three moved to Winnipeg so Bill could work as a shipper-receiver at Western Glove Works while Eva was, for a time, a stay-at-home mom.

Eva was a strong woman who was the backbone of her family. Because Bill's left hand was paralyzed Eva not only did the usual household chores, but she also helped Bill with other outside chores calling herself his "good left hand." By doing this she became knowledgeable about car and home maintenance, which would save her money in the end. Since Eva grew up during the Great Depression, she was a thrifty woman. She would save money by sewing clothes for all her children; growing her own vegetables; picking wild berries and canning her garden produce. She was a stay-at-home mom until 1966 when she went to work full-time in the garment industry in Winnipeg.

Both Bill and Eva loved to dance and some of our fondest childhood memories are of watching them float around the dance floor doing square dances, two-steps, fox-trots and waltzes.

Eva was also a storyteller. We learned the history of the family from her but also have a few non-fiction stories that will keep us laughing for a long time to come.

Bill and Eva loved to travel. They spent twelve winters as snowbirds in Weslaco, Texas where they danced, shuffled (won trophies, too) and played cards in the Texas sunshine. After retirement they bought a 5th-Wheel and became turtles with their home on their back. Once they grew tired of living in their 5th-Wheel they moved full time to Kenora, Ontario where three of their daughters lived.

Eva loved to drive so she’d get in her vehicle, put on her fiddle music, and hit the road showing up at the home of family and friends after a quick phone call telling them, “I’m coming to visit.”

Another one of Eva’s passions was watching wrestling on TV. Other women watched afternoon soap operas or other TV shows such as Dallas, but Eva could binge watch WWE wrestling for hours on end. Her favourite wrestler was John Cena who had the motto of “Never Give Up.”

Toward the end of Eva’s life, she lived in a personal care home in Alberta because, unfortunately, she suffered from senior’s dementia. She was a fighter right up to the end. Her daughters started to call her the Duracell Bunny because the doctor would say that the end was near, but Eva would quite often rally and come back to them again. Usually, it was a visit from a family member that recharged her batteries.

If her daughters could sum up Eva's life in a couple of words, it would be that "she loved children". Despite her dementia, in her last conversation with her daughter Beverly, she whispered “I love all my children.” One hundred years from now it will not matter what kind of home she lived in or what kind of car she drove, but the world may be a better place because Eva was important in the life of a child - maybe that child is you.

One final thing that Eva wanted everyone to know is, and we quote her exact words – I’m not sick: I’m just old, a phrase repeated to her family at every visit.

Cremation has taken place, and a Celebration of Life will be held in Winnipeg, Manitoba on Monday, June 15, 2026, at 10 a.m. Green Acres Funeral Home in care of arrangement – 1 Green Acres Ln, Navin, Manitoba (east side of Winnipeg by Tinker Town). In lieu of flowers, if friends or family so desire, donations can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society (in honour of her daughter Linda and son-in-law Jim) or to the Heart and Stroke Foundation (in honour of her son Bob and husband Bill).