Sunday, October 24, 2021
To the Apland family, our loving thoughts and heartfelt condolences are sent your way. We will surely miss the wit and humor that Esther displayed. She was a wonderful lady, kind and thoughtful, gentle but firm, proud to be independent and not shy to stand her ground and let you know who's boss. I was fortunate to have a very special relationship and unique bond with her. We shared so many laughs and memories, always trying to one up on each other. We enjoyed receiving her care packages full of perogies, cabbage rolls, cookies and butter tarts and of course her pies. I will share a quick story about a pie. Esther had come out to BC for a visit and Helen and Lars were in bed early as they still had Javawocky. I was at Lars' house doing some bookwork. It was late in the evening and Esther was keeping me company as she was taking out the freshly baked pies to cool. I kept bugging her to cut me a piece but she insisted that it had to be cooled first. When I completed my work and got ready to leave, I thought it would be a good time to take a pie on my way out and see if she would notice. I opened the door to leave and said goodbye. That's when she noticed the pie in my hand and came running to take it back, called me a thief and threatened to call the police. We had a good laugh afterwards. To follow that caper, the next few times I called Esther in Yorkton, I would start by identifying myself as "Hello, this is Const. Smith from the local detachment, I've heard you had some problems with some pie thieves". I didn't get much further in my disguise when she would start her rant and verbal barrage of who is this what do you want! After confessing who it was we would laugh and she called me a bugger. I successfully pulled this off a second time, raising her ire and blood pressure. However, on the third attempt she caught on. She will always bring a smile to my face and the fond memories will be forever. Thank you, Esther! And to all the Apland family, our condolences. Aunie and Stan
