PREDIGER, Lydia Christina “Babe”
August 26, 1923 – October 15, 2014
Lydia passed peacefully in her sleep at Northcott, in Ponoka at the age 91. A life well lived and well loved. She was predeceased by her husband Mike. She and Mike married shortly after his return post-war to Canada and moved to Ponoka in 1945, which remained her home ever since. She is survived by her four daughters and their families: Sharon Prediger, nee Poirier (Cochrane); Carol (René) St. Andre (Spruce Grove) and their two children, Kim (Troy) Brady (Beaumont) and Steven (Michelle) St. Andre (New Mexico), each of whom have two daughters; Marlene (Dave) Ballantyne and their two children, Laurie (Tyler) Bundschuh (Meadow Lake, Sask.), and son Mark (Nadine) Ballantyne (Red Deer), each of whom have 3 children; Margo (Bernie) Comeau (Calgary) with their two children, Cody and Jacquie and her daughter.
Lydia’s family grew again when her niece Joan came to live with Auntie Babe and her family in Ponoka and married Joe Staldeker 5 years later. Joan and Joe, their children and grandchildren gave Auntie Babe great joy with their visits.
Lydia was born in St. John, New Brunswick, the youngest of 13 children and hence the nickname ‘Babe’. After completing High School, Lydia joined the Air Force, working in ‘Stores’, where she gained accounting, inventory control, purchasing, skills that would later prove invaluable, enabling her to diligently ‘keep the books’ and meaningfully partner with her husband in their four businesses. "Mrs. Prediger" gave many young people their first paying job at Mike's Newsstand.
Lydia became very involved in Ponoka’s community activities. A proud and dedicated Legion member, she wore the uniform with pride and was honoured to be asked to lay the wreath at the Cenotaph. She was generously volunteered her time with the St. Augustine Catholic Church, school sports events, and figure skating, to name a few. Ensuring customer service, even in snow, she readily stepped in to deliver papers when her daughters were unable to. She also loved and excelled at bowling, winning many trophies.
Her love of travel included not only Canada where she was fortunate to see the Pope, but later Mesa, Alaska and London. At age 82, she travelled to the Middle East, including Bahrain and Dubai, with her three daughters to visit her daughter who was working in Saudi Arabia.
Lydia was a good friend and a kind person who never forgot the birthday, anniversary or graduation of family and friends. Her door was always open welcoming her family, friends especially with the tantalizing aroma of her baking.
She will be missed by so many.