Phyllis Erbach passed away peacefully, with her devoted husband and family by her side, on Friday, June 20, 2014 at St. Peter’s Hospital, Melville, SK after a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer. She was 82 years of age. Phyllis was born on July 13, 1931 to Peter and Christine (nee Rathgeber) Schramm on the family farm at Goodeve, SK. She attended Schappert School until grade nine, at which time she left to help on the farm. She began employment at the Goodeve Cafe where she learned to make the most amazing apple pies with an intricately patterned crust. She was later employed at the City Cafe, Swift’s, and then at St. Peter’s Hospital in Melville and worked there until her marriage.
Phyllis met her husband Harold at City Cafe in Melville. They were united in marriage on January 12, 1955 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Melville. For a short time, they lived on the Schramm family farm at Goodeve, moving to the Erbach farm in the fall of 1955, where they raised their three children, Donna born in 1957, David in 1959 and Dwayne in 1962.
Phyllis’s pride and joy was her family, and she loved attending their baptisms, recitals, school events and weddings. Cooking huge, delicious meals and having family and friends over were very common occurrences over the years. Sunday supper at the farm was often her special creamed chicken and vegetables. She also loved watching and participating in curling, and for a short time, she played seniors’ slow-pitch. Phyllis and Harold also enjoyed travelling to British Columbia and Edmonton to visit relatives, as well as making many trips to Minot over the years. As an avid Riders and Blue Jays fan she loved wearing her “team colours” on game day. She smiled when we told her the Jays were winning this year. Playing ‘Cheat’ with her sister Hilda as her partner against Harold and Alvin was an enjoyable pastime. The game ‘31’ was also another favourite when company came over to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. Her grandchildren treasured the time they spent playing crokinole, card games and Snakes and Ladders with Grandma. Setting out her hummingbird and oriole feeders and watching them all summer was another pastime she enjoyed. Phyllis was a very caring and uncomplaining person all of her life.
Phyllis was predeceased by her parents, Peter and Christine (nee Rathgeber) Schramm; in-laws Jacob and Katherine (nee Keller) Erbach; twin grandchildren Stephanie and Harold Erbach; brothers John, Louis, William, and Karl; Peter in infancy; sister Katherine Walsh; brothers and sisters-in-law, Hilda Schramm, Frieda Schramm, Matt Walsh, Alvin Propp, Alec Ungurian, Mary and Henry Rathgeber, Walter Erbach in infancy, Tillie Erbach, Janet and Ernest Rehbein, Donald Erback, Harvey Friesen and Lorna Erbach in infancy and godson, Doug Propp as well as other nephews and nieces.
She leaves to mourn her passing her loving husband of 59 years, Harold; three children Donna (Harvey) Mucha, David Erbach (Paulette Bereti), Dwayne (Karen) Erbach; grandchildren Brandi Mucha (Jason Schaeffer), Traci (Colan) Trail, Derek Mucha (Amanda Sawchuk), Tyler Erbach, Jordan Erbach, Kaitlyn Erbach (Ryan Matchim), Krysta Erbach, Dwight Erbach (Chelsea Schmidt), Drew Erbach (Alysha McEachern), Dustin Erbach; great-grandchildren Peyton Schaeffer, Paisley and Greysen Trail; her sisters Hilda Propp, Mary Karpo, Tillie Ungurian; brother George (Ellen) Schramm; brothers and sisters-in-law Patricia Schramm, Gail Schramm, Albert Erbach, Violet Wiebe, Lydia (Harold) Sastaunik, Lyona Friesen and Gilbert Erback as well as their godchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and family friends.