Jessie June Prost

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear mother Jessie June Prost (née Koerner) of Armstrong, BC.  

She passed quietly in her own home on Tuesday, Feb 24th.  She was healthy and happy and free of pain. She was already looking at seed catalogues for this year’s garden.

Jessie was born at home with a midwife, on July 8, 1932, in Wandering River, Alberta, the first of 6 children. Jessie married the love of her life, Louis Prost in 1951 and they spent 64 years together before Louis passed away in 2015.  They spent the beginning of their married life in Amisk, Alberta on a large farm raising grain, dairy cows and the first 9 children.  They moved to Chilliwack in 1973 where they welcomed the birth of their best and final baby Tina (who wrote this). In Chilliwack Mom worked at DW King doing alterations and later they owned and ran Valley Bernina Sewing Centre where Jessie taught sewing lessons and also did sewing and alterations, creating many wedding dresses and complete suits for the grooms as well. Jessie joined the CWL and started a Beaver Scout Colony, the little ones loved calling her Rainbow. They moved to Armstrong in 1988 and became an active part of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Jessie was a CWL member and also served as a president of the CWL and as a coordinator of the St. Joseph’s food booth at the IPE. She provided the denim material and helped craft the aprons for the Knights of Columbus and Parish that are still in use today. She also made the white sashes that are used by the CWL. She was a member of the Armstrong Garden Club for many years, and had a bed in the community garden after she sold her house with the large garden on Patterson St.

Jessie said that her greatest work was raising her kids. Jessie and Louis had 10 children, 32 grandchildren and 50.5 great grandchildren at this date.  She sewed her kids clothes, planted and harvested a huge garden to feed her kids and always fed us nourishing meals with a liberal measure of garlic. In the last years she didn’t sew as much but knitted sweaters for many of her great grandchildren, over 30 sweaters completed and sent out. 

Jessie is predeceased by her parents Jesse and Junia Koerner; husband Louis; son Jim (survived by wife Connie); 2 grandsons, Jay (survived by wife Mel), Adam (survived by wife Michelle); and daughter in law Angela (survived by Peter). 

She is survived by her children Tim (Shirley), Jane, Nancy (Al Bykowsky), John, Rose (Rod Kalin), Jack, June (John Fryers), Peter and Tina (Dave Rebmann); 30 grandchildren, and 50 (and counting) great grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings Alice, Judy, Tillie, Duane and Linda (Ron); brother-in-law Bernard (Deanna) Prost, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Mom was always a healthy eater and can be credited for Dad’s long life. In addition to the garlic, we children ate comfrey and dandelions in our salad and drank tigers milk (a blended concoction of milk, molasses, and brewers yeast). Her favorite colour was red, she NEVER turned down ice cream and loved her flowers, especially her roses and lilies.

In lieu of flowers, donations under the Prost name can be made towards dementia care at alzheimer.ca or to the Canadian Mental Health Association at cmha.ca 

Final prayers will be held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 3335 Patterson St. Armstrong, BC, at 7 pm, Tuesday, March 10. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph’s Wednesday, March 11 at 2 pm followed by a reception in the hall.

If you are unable to attend The Mass of Christian Burial in person, there will be a livestream available to watch here: https://livestream.cypressfuneral.ca/

Arrangements entrusted to

Cypress Funeral & Cremation Services 250-546-7237

Condolences may be expressed to the family by phone or email through Cypress Funeral & Cremation Services: