Erna Edel, 80, died peacefully in her home on August 16, 2009, of complications due to Alzheimer's. She was born October 28, 1928, to Heinrich and Maria Motz in Jargara, Romania. World War II forced the family to flee Jargara in 1940, settling in Poland in 1941. In 1945, her family fled Poland, settling in Ochsendorf, Germany. In 1948, Erna's father moved the family to Canada, settling in Osoyoos, B.C. She married David Edel on February 22, 1951, in Osoyoos, B.C. They lived at Copper Mountain, where she concentrated on making a home and learning the English language, through the newspapers and listening to the radio. From 1956 to 1960, Erna assisted David at the Hope Rescue Mission in Edmonton, Alberta. In 1960, the family moved to Regina, Saskatchewan to pastor their first church. In 1961, they moved to Osoyoos, B.C. In 1964, the family moved to Oroville, WA, where they ministered at the First Baptist Church until 1970. Her passion was ministering in the church; her focus was children. She was very involved with Conconully Holiness Association. Erna and David were instrumental in beginning the community food bank and migrant day care in the later part of the 1960's.Survivors include her children, Linda Miller of Oroville, Alan Edel of San Jose, CA, Norine Holderbein of Osoyoos, B.C. and Manda Cowin of Chehalis, WA; one sister, Hildegard Jalovec of Osoyoos, B.C.; and two brothers, Adolf Motz of Osoyoos, B.C. and Sieghart Motz of Victoria, B.C. She was preceded in death by her husband, David Edel; one brother, Fred Motz; and one sister, Hulda Banka.Services will be held on Friday, August 21, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. at the Oroville Free Methodist Church, with Rev. Thomas Grejdus and Rev. Rod Brown officiating. Interment will follow at the Oroville Riverview Cemetery. Bergh Funeral Service of Oroville is in charge of arrangements.