Frances Ertel (nee Lambert)

November 20, 1932 - August 3, 2019
Fran passed away peacefully, aged 86, at Peace Arch Hospital, White Rock on August 3, 2019, surrounded by family and friends in her final days. She brought joy and laughter to all who knew her, making everything better for everyone she touched. Fondly known as Blan by her father and family, she was born to Peter and Elizabeth Lambert (nee McManus) on November 20, 1932 in Dublin, Ireland, and having survived health challenges in her youth, Blan went on to become the first woman trade union leader of the ITGWU in the 1960's representing Irish Unions at domestic and international events. Blan emigrated to Canada in 1971, finally landing in Vancouver where she ran the pension fund for BCTel (TELUS) until her retirement. In Vancouver Fran met and married her beloved Fred who passed before her last year. Together Fran and Fred travelled everywhere, internationally to visit Fred's family in Germany and Fran's family in Ireland. They travelled together all over the Great NW in Canada and USA, and for 20 years visited Cannon Beach twice a year where a long walk and a cold beer was always to be shared. Blan is preceded in death by her parents and siblings Maureen, Christy, Maurice, Betty, 'Lil, Phil and Joe. Blan is survived by her sister Margaret (Peg) and brother Peter with whom she was very close, with many family visits to Dublin and Vancouver over the years. Blan spent wonderful time with family in Dublin as recently as Christmas 2018 where she had memorable times with all her many nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews who remember her dearly and will always miss our 'Auntie Blan'.
Memorial service will be at Victory Memorial Park Funeral Centre, 14831 28 Avenue, Surrey, B.C., on Saturday, August 17, 2019 at 1 pm.
In lieu of flowers, Fran's request was for a donation in her name to the Peace Arch Hospital Foundation or Peace Arch Hospice.


 Victory Memorial Park Funeral Centre