Erma Irene Hatt

It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of our beloved mother and grandmother, Erma Hatt. Erma peacefully passed away at the age of 97 in Saanichton, British Columbia. She rejoins her husband, Fred; her parents, Wilfred and Manerva; her sisters, Lois, Phyllis and Norma and brother Lloyd.

Erma and Fred shared 42 adventurous years of marriage, building a life filled with love and laughter. She leaves behind her loving children, Ian (Anita), Laura (Todd), her treasured grandchildren, Brian, Kaitlin and Lucas, her sisters Helen and Carol and many nieces and nephews.

Erma was a smart, charitable, fun-loving and kind woman who loved to engage in conversation with everyone she met. She was always generous with her time and gave back to her friends, family and community. Erma’s early life was spent in Shawville, Quebec in a loving hard-working family. She grew up working on her family’s farm and lived through the Great Depression, the 2nd World War and many cold snowy winters. As a child she contracted scarlet fever and was near death. She survived and managed to graduate at the same time as her peers. At 18 Erma attended MacDonald College where she earned her teaching diploma. Erma spent many years as a primary school teacher in Montreal, Ontario and Dumfries Scotland. She loved teaching and was passionate about helping students who were less privileged.

She met her husband Fred on a golf course while teaching in southern Ontario. After marrying in 1966 Fred and Erma built a life in Toronto. They raised two children and were active members of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Pickering, Ontario. They filled their time with hard work, summer barbecues, sporting events, dinner parties and connecting with friends and family.

In 1980 the Hatt family made a move to British Columbia buying a small acreage on the Saanich Peninsula. Erma and Fred made many life-long friends in Victoria. Their house was a place where friends and neighbors gathered, and everyone was welcome. They spent time golfing and curling at Glen Meadows golf club and supporting their children and their grandchildren in many ways.

In 2008, Fred passed away and despite this being a devastating event in her life, Erma continued to live and thrive. She embraced the arrival of her final grandchild and gave him much love and support. Erma was a member of the Central Saanich Lawn bowling Club, the Brentwood Bay Senior’s Centre and continued to be an active member of the Saanich Peninsula Presbyterian Church. She leaned on her good friends and her family to get through the years and lived another 18 years in the community.

Erma’s legacy can be felt in the power of connection and community and her gratitude for the small things. She loved to share a good cup of tea, a nice dinner, or a lovely glass of wine on a summer evening around a campfire. She never said no to a social gathering or a chance to have fun and connect with people. She was open-hearted but tough and kept going in the face of hardships and challenges. Her life was long and beautiful, and she lived it on her own terms. We all wish we just had a bit more time with her. Heaven will be a much more interesting place now that she has arrived.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation.

Celebration of life to be held at Saanich Peninsula Presbyterian Church on March 21, 2026 at 1pm.