Bernice Esther Jeanette Loudon, August 14, 1932 – August 15, 2026

On August 15, 2026, our beloved Bernice peacefully passed away, just a day after we celebrated her 94th birthday! As we mourn her loss, we find solace in knowing she is now singing with the choir in the presence of Christ, her Lord. Born in Strasbourg, Saskatchewan, on August 14, 1932, she was the first child of Dwain and Gladys Entner and grew up on the family farm. In 1948, at 16, they moved to a five-acre farm in Nanaimo’s Harewood district. She joined First Baptist Church that same year and was the longest-serving member (78 years) at the time of her passing. Some favourite activities in her youth included singing alto in the church choir and being a member of the church youth group, where she made many life-long friends and met her future husband, Bernard Hawker. She worked at the shoe department at the old Eaton’s store on Victoria Crescent in Nanaimo. After marrying Bernard, they moved to Port Alberni, where she became a devoted homemaker and mother to three children. In 1968, after a separation, she and her children returned to Nanaimo, where she worked for many years as an office assistant to Dr. Doug Kirkbride, and later to Dr. Kuramoto. She was a single mother until she married Gordon Loudon in 1972. She and Gordon were very involved at First Baptist, and she was a long-time leader in Pioneer Girls, a Deaconess, and a member of the Kitchen & Hospitality team, where she truly enjoyed serving. She cherished her friends, her large extended family, and was a shining example to us all of steadfast faith and devotion. She loved to sew, crochet, loom-weave, bake, make preserves, read, go camping with family and friends, and host many delicious dinners. Bernice was predeceased by her parents, Dwain and Gladys Entner; her sisters, Gwendolyn (Jim) Smith and Carolyn Entner; her husbands, Bernard Hawker and Gordon Loudon; her sister-in-law, Jean Entner; her daughter-in-law, Sharon Hawker; her grandson, Brodie Abma, and many dear friends and extended family. She is remembered by her brother, Duane (Betty) Entner, sons Bruce (Fran) Hawker and Dalan (Myra) Hawker, and daughter Cara (Gord) Beirnes, also her 10 grandchildren and their spouses, 20 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren! Her life was filled with serving others and her Lord. She will be deeply missed and always in our hearts! A Celebration of Life Service will be held at First Baptist Church, 1650 Waddington Rd. Nanaimo, on Saturday, October 3rd at 3:00 pm.

• Date : 2026-08-15
• Location : Nanaimo, BC