Standar – Adina Rosalia Edel Standar, beloved wife of Erwin passed away at Brooks Health Centre Long Term Care on October 28, 2015 surrounded by family at the age of 96. Adina will be remembered for her hospitality, kindheartedness, her honesty, and her unconditional love for family and her close friends. Adina was born in Korostan, in the province of Volhynia, in a time where the Ukraine was in political uproar. As World War I was raging in Europe, a political and social revolution defined by a struggle between the labor class and capitalists was taking place in Russia. The Bolshevik Party, soon to be renamed the Communist Party, had control of the Russian government. The year was 1919. Adina spoke about some of their life in the old country. She recounted her travels during the winter in a sleigh with her father to Zhitomir when she was 8 years old. Adina did the usual things that a farm girl does—–cooking, cleaning, milking cows, stooking hay, etc. She went to Olds College in 1942-1943, taking courses on making the best of domestic life, since that is what women in those days studied. She embroidered beautiful tablecloths, crocheted doilies and made duvets. Her priority throughout her young adult life was contributing to the operations of the family farm. In 1952, Adina attended the Calgary Business College and achieved marks in the high 80’s into the 90’s. Following graduation, she got a job at the Bowness Post Office as the Assistant Post Mistress. This is where a young German soldier who had been in a POW camp in England decided to immigrate to Canada following his English citizenship. Erwin would get the mail befriending the German speaking post mistress. Erwin and Adina were married in the East Olds Baptist Church on October 23, 1955 buying a house in Bowness. Two children came shortly after – Sylvia in 1957 and Paul, 15 months later. She became a devoted stay-at-home mom. She moved from Calgary, to Brooks, to Cluny, to Scandia, and settling in Tilley and loved the house that Erwin built on the outskirts of Tilley. In 1993, the decision was made to move into Brooks due to health concerns and the proximity to health care. Wherever she moved, the making of friends was helped along with Adina inviting people for Sunday dinner or Erwin’s assistants at the elevator. She loved gardening and worshipped the sun. She would give heaps of produce from her garden to neighbors or anyone she truly liked. She loved her 5 grandchildren deeply and later her 3 great-grandchildren. She wished for her grandchildren the experience of the richness of God’s love and forgiveness in their lives. Living until she was 96, she had encountered lots of losses and disappointments in her life. Her deep spiritual life Adina is survived by her loving husband of 60 years–Erwin Standar. Two children-Sylvia (Ron) Van Oene and Paul (Donna) Standar. 5 grandchildren- Jessica (Cuong) Nguyen, Jordan (Melissa) Green, Nathan Green, Christopher (Cydney) Standar, Nicole (Jonathan) Weekes. 1 step-grandchild- Brooke (Sheldon) Liivam. And 3 great grandchildren–Jensen Green, Annabelle Nguyen, and Hunter Weekes. She leaves one sister, Frida Semrau of Victoria, B.C.; one brother, Benjamin Edel and his wife, Freda of Medicine Hat; one sister-in-law Hildegard Wagner of Smalkalden, Germany; numerous nieces and nephews and their children. Also, she leaves an extensive network of lifelong friends that she nurtured. Please visit www.thomsfuneralhome.com/obituaries to write a condolence message, send flowers or to light a memorial tribute candle in memory of George. In memory of Adina, if family or friend’s desire, memorial tributes may be made to Brooks Heath Foundation for new furnishings for Long Term Care. Arrangements in care of THOM’S FUNERAL HOME AND RECEPTION CENTRE. For further information please contact us at (403) 501-1010.
