Alma Sonja Maglio

Alma passed away quietly in her sleep on Friday morning, March 17, 2023, at her home at Shannon Oaks Independent Senior's facility in Vancouver, BC. She was 95 years old (96 in July) and lived a full and most enjoyable and interesting life.

Alma came to Canada "en ventra sa mere" in 1927 with her parents Gustav and Mina Bunkowski, and her four older siblings: Erwin, Alex, Bonnie, and Lucy. She was born shortly after the family arrived in Lemberg, Saskatchewan, which is where the family temporarily lived having safely and quickly escaped the ravages of the Russian revolution. Fairly soon afterwards, the family left Saskatchewan and settled in Vancouver where Alma's two younger siblings, Erna and Lloyd, were born. Erna is the last surviving member of the Bunkowski family. This family of seven soon became a part of the thriving German speaking community which congregated around Fraser Street in Vancouver, including Ebenezer Baptist Church, which Alma attended her entire life.

Alma is survived by her son Douglas, and her daughter Diane. Sadly her other son James predeceased her in 1978 along with his wife to be, Susan Hamilton, both of whom were killed in a tragic car accident. She was grandmother of five: Kirsten Kurnicki, Juliana Friesen, Rebekah Moen, Jordan Sauer and Justin Bull. Alma was also the great-grandmother to eleven great-grandchildren. Another great-grandchild was born two days after her passing to Jordan and his family, with another baby expected in June to Justin's family. She was continuously surrounded by a large and loving family. She absolutely loved little children, and was exceptionally good with them, playing and drawing them into games and confidences --it was a joy to watch!

Alma was a sporty person who kept herself in good physical condition her entire life. As a teenager she was the fastest female sprinter in John Oliver High School in the early 1940's. She enjoyed playing softball, tennis, golf, fishing, and curling and even learned how to snow ski at Whistler in the 70's. At Shannon Oaks she was known to use the gym equipment almost every day and she walked considerable distances outdoors as often as the weather permitted. Apparently, she was also an ace carpet bowler at Shannon Oaks. She had a "hole-in-one" trophy earned at the Squamish Golf course while playing with Don. Quite the athlete she was her whole life.

Alma married Don Sauer in 1950 right after Don finished Law School at UBC. They enjoyed a happy marriage for 37 years until Don died suddenly in 1987 of a heart attack at their cottage on Savary Island (Savary was one of Alma's favourite places on earth). How many fish Alma caught at Savary with Don only God might know. Don and Alma regularly travelled on vacation to Hawaii and Mexico, and even ventured to Europe to visit Diane while she did her Master's degree at Guildhall in London (that was probably Don's farthest adventure away from home, as Don was by nature a "home-body" except for Savary).

Alma lived alone from 1987 to 1999 when she met and married her second husband, Eugenio Maglio, and happily took his last name (she really cannot be blamed for disliking the moniker of "Sauer" which English speakers never really understood, for Alma was no "sour"). Gene was a former School Superintendent for West Vancouver, and they lived happily together and literally travelled around the world from east to west, from Europe to Africa to New Zealand and Australia in 2001. Gene and Alma even took the entire family (all children and grandchildren) on a cruise to Alaska, which to this day is a favourite memory with Alma and Gene presiding over a large table for the gracious evening meals on board. Sadly, Gene died in 2008. In 2010 Alma moved to Shannon Oaks.

While she lived at Shanon Oaks she met the third "love of her life", Charles Edward (Chuck) Walker, with whom, although they never married, she spent virtually all of her time with for the years after they met. It can be fairly said that Alma had some of the best years of her life with Chuck until he passed away in 2018. They frequently came to visit at Doug and Doreen's cottage at Savary, and they traveled and cruised together and generally acted much less than their respective ages. As to why she never married Chuck, she protested, "How can it be said about me that I was married three times!".

Alma was a faithful member of the Ebenezer Baptist Church where she was a Sunday School teacher and active in the choirs and particulary in their "Missionary Guild". As quite a good alto, she often sang duets and in a trio at worship services there. Because of Ebenezer, Alma spent many a happy summer's day at Green Bay Baptist Camp near Kelowna -- in fact she was there in 1955 when the very first cabins were built, and it was there that she learned how to water ski behind one of Don's boats (how can you fish without a boat?). She was a also a girl's camp counsellor at Green Bay and will be fondly remembered by many of her young girl campers as a "really fun" counsellor.

It is fair to say the Alma's calling in life was to be an excellent housewife and mother and it is true that she was absolutely devoted to that calling. As part of running the household, Alma was a very capable seamstress, a good cook and baker, and she loved to throw big fancy dinner parties and hold large family gatherings.

To say that Alma was stylish and attractive right up until the end, is a definite understatement. She had a passion for clothes and was always perfecty "turned out". Many of her friends at Shannon Oaks will recall how she often dressed in completely different outfits, one for lunch and one for dinner, always perfectly coordinated. We can only imagine that there are probably a number of women's fine clothiers and milliers who will regret her passing.

Alma will be deeply missed by her community at Shannon Oaks and at Ebenezer, and by her family and many friends, all of whom are no doubt glad that Alma's leaving this world was so peaceful and without any apparent suffering. One day we will all hope to meet her again in Heaven.