Eristine "Erni" E Duncan

With sadness we acknowledge that Eristine Elizabeth (Erni) Duncan of Vermilion Alberta passed away on August 13, 2024.  Let all be reminded that Erni lived a long, healthy and enjoyable life.

Eristine was born in Vegreville, AB to homesteading Ukrainian immigrants, Sam and Dora Werezuk. Many times through all her years she was known to reminisce about her happy childhood in the Vegreville area, with siblings Vickie, Mary, Anne, Paul, Peter, Sadie, Walter and Willie. Later these happy days were often renewed at “Baba and Guido’s” almost every Christmas with a house full of family, cousins, nieces and nephews.

In the mid 50’s, Erni moved to Vermilion to begin her teaching career at the Buffalo Coulee school. It was while she was there that she met Bert Duncan. The two married and lived on Bert’s parents homestead in the Buffalo Coulee area. It was there they had two children of their own. Erni continued her teaching career at the Lakeland College while occasionally traveling to Europe and the South Pacific.

Once the children were grown, Erni again branched out , this time to become a shoe store owner and retailer where she made many friends within and outside of the community. Early embroidery skills grew as Erni became enamored with Llama wool and spent many a peaceful hours spinning and knitting Llama wool. After retiring from the shoe business, Erni would spend her days enjoying her time with Bert and the farm cats, either at their home near Mannville (trailer sales) or travelling to both llama and/or softball events. Erni very much enjoyed time with friends and would overlook her own concerns to help or simply visit others. She also enjoyed gardening, flowers, and walking, "just to go walking".

In late 2008 Erni was pre-deceased by her husband Bert.  Erni is survived by her children and several nieces, nephews and countless friends.

In lieu of a lavish funeral, Erni has chosen to be celebrated at a small private gathering of family and friends. It is Erni’s expressed wishes that she be cremated and interred near her husband at a private ceremony in the Vermilion Public Cemetery at a later date.

Gifts or donations in her memory can be made to the charity of one’s own choice.

Thank-You to those who made Erni’s later days happier with a short visit or phone call. She believed in angels and was delighted by every one of you.  

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