PEGLAU, Holdine “Cookie”

December 8, 1932 — July 18, 2026

Holdine Peglau went to be with the Lord on July 18, 2026, at the age of 93. She had already outlived so much, a war, an ocean, an early loss of her mother, that ninety-three years might be understood less as a length of time than as a kind of persistence. Sometimes persistence can harden a person, but not Holdine; she was called “Cookie” because she was just that sweet all of the time.

She was born in Spano, Poland, to a family with one older sister. When Holdine was nine, her mother died, and the grief that arrived so early in her life was incredibly hard. Her father remarried, and two half-brothers followed, which the girls welcomed. Families reassemble themselves however they must, and Holdine loved hers.

In December 1951, Holdine crossed the Atlantic alone, on a steamer destined for Canada, and somewhere on her way to her relations (uncle, Mike Martin, waiting in Brunkild, Manitoba) she turned eighteen.

She met Ed at the Mission Baptist Church, which was, in its way, exactly where a person of her convictions might expect to find the love of her life. She was baptized there by Pastor Waldemar Kaser, her faith already settled. She and Ed married on June 13, 1959, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She worked at Kimberly-Clark; he built houses and worked in sheet metal. Between them, they made a life out of attending church, dining at family suppers, and laughing with friends — an accumulation of ordinary, cherished moments. Throughout these moments, Cookie’s warmth and presence radiated; she had a gift for making people feel they were the most important person in the room.

In 1972, they moved to Kelowna, BC, where Ed’s family had settled, and where the two of them went on, as they always had, preferring each other’s company to almost anything else. Cookie continued to be universally described as “sweet,” “thoughtful,” and a “really good person”. She gave many volunteer hours to her community through her church.

She was an amazing cook and baker who loved people and animals, even adopting a neighbourhood cat named Muffy. When the time came for her to leave the neighbourhood, she still asked after Muffy and wanted the best for her feline friend.

Even during her short stay at the care home, Orchard Manor, her personality, and warmth drew the staff to her, who were devastated by her passing. The family has been so impressed and grateful for the superb care Cookie received at Orchard Manor while she was there; thank you for making her last year one where she was cared for, happy, and genuinely loved.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Ed Peglau, in January 2025. They are together again, always.

Cookie will be deeply missed by her sister and brothers. Although she and Ed did not have children of their own, they were a cherished presence in the lives of their nieces and nephews: in Canada, Anna (Victor), Eve (Harry), Lolly (Frank), Andrew (Andrea), and Jeffrey; and overseas, Leon, Sabine, Laura, Marcel, Karl (Birgitta), Jürgen, Holdine (Erich), Manfred (Ewa), Annegret, and Ewald.

A huge thank you goes out to Orchard Manor Care Home. The amazing care that was given to Cookie was superb, and the love and care was always shown.

Memorial donations in memory of Cookie may be sent to BC Cancer , www.bccancer.bc.ca.

A viewing, from 9:00 am to 10:00 am, will take place before the service for anyone who would like to pay their last respects to Cookie.  

The Celebration of Life, with Pastor Ed Hahn officiating, will be held on Friday, August 7, 2026, at 10:00 am (PDT), at Springfield Funeral Home, 2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC, followed by a reception. If you are unable to attend in person, please join the family online by Livestream at the time of the service (see below), a recording will be made available to view in 3–5 days.

Burial will take place after the reception at Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery, 1991 Bernard Ave, Kelowna, BC.

If you wish to send a condolence, post photos, or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area called “Condolences”.

LIVESTREAM PROVIDED BY SPRINGFIELD FUNERAL HOME: