Block, Irma Margareta Peters (1933-2005)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2006 Jun 9 p. 27

Birth date: 1933 Jul 9

text of obituary:

IRMA MARGARETA (RITA) BLOCK

Irma Margareta (Rita) Block died Dec. 11 after an 8-year battle with heart disease. She was born July 9, 1933 in Chilliwack, B.C. Her mother, Maria Baerg, died when Rita was 3. She lived with her father David Peters and sisters at their paternal grandmother's home in Vancouver until her father remarried. In 1942, the family moved to a farm in Surrey. At 16, Rita graduated, took a job as a nurse's aid in Vancouver, and began nurse's training. At this time, her husband-to-be, Arthur Block, came into her life, but the romance was interrupted when he went to Harvard. The couple married Dec. 30, 1954, beginning a 51-year marriage. Rita worked tirelessly at everything she undertook, supporting her husband in business functions, entertaining, and travel, as well as serving with the Vancouver General Hospital auxiliary. Rita and Arthur were active in Fraserview MB Church, serving as youth sponsors. Countless young people flowed through their home, all blessed by Rita's generosity and attention. She is mourned by Arthur; children Barbara (Tom) Phillips, Janet (James) Toews, Leslie (Scott) Carpenter, and Adrian (Julie); 11 grandchildren; 1 great-grandson.