Tougher than nails - raised on a sod-buster's farm northeast of Regina, near a place called Avonhurst, that doesnt even exist now.
Being in the middle of 8 or 9 kids, ruled by a miseriable old Prussian-German who thought BEATING kids was the way to raise them, she stood up to the "Old Man" for her little brothers and sisters. So SHE took the beatings for them - CLOSED-FIST-beatings, sometimes! - and that's what made her tough enough to survive a failed marriage to a drunk, move on from that and raise her daughter alone.... working in Woolworths by day, and scrubbing floors by night.
Then she met a member of the Canadian Air Force (this was during WWII) and married him - from what I hear, a real nice guy.) But he would not see the end of the War. Back to square one.
In the late 40's, she met a Navy Veteran that turned out to be my Dad, a bit of "partying", a bit of "romance". They married in July of 1950 - I was born a bit more than a year later, in August of '51. He joined the Singer Sewing Machine Company, and became a Store Manager within a short time.
Struggled in southern Saskatchewan - moved to Oregon when I was in grade 2 - back to Canada (VAncouver) when I was in grade 5. My Mom would work full-time as a "seamstress" for a furniture-remodeler. And THEN after dinner, would sew PRIVATE contrats, until my bed-time when I was 12 or so.
At my age of 19 - they had an opportunity to get a Singer Sewing machine of their own. They jumped at it - I rented their house in Vancouver back from them until two visits up to Vernon convinced me to get the Hell out of Vancouver.
They did so well (and my Dad was ALWAYS an Honest businessman, btw!) that they paid their home off in about 6 years. For about 15 years after they retired in 1979, they wintered in a large Motor-Home in Hemet, California - about an hour or so from L.A.
My Mom was able to see me and my wife bring up two wonderful Grand-sons that I am quite proud of, and who had a close relationship with Gramma for the 14 years we lived in the same town. Unfortunately, we were then transferred - but only about 80 miles away, so the "older" boys still were able to keep in touch.
They are in their '30's now, and cant visit very often, but they have tried when they could.
I do the same; I am retired, living about 75 miles away - and have tried to go there as often as I can, .... sometimes as much as every 2nd weekend or more - Phone every second night.
She got very frail the last few years - both mentally and physically.
The reason I am posting this "talking-to-myself" message???
My Mom died at about 8:30 Pacific tonight.
It kinda sucks, ya know? ...... major.
Being in the middle of 8 or 9 kids, ruled by a miseriable old Prussian-German who thought BEATING kids was the way to raise them, she stood up to the "Old Man" for her little brothers and sisters. So SHE took the beatings for them - CLOSED-FIST-beatings, sometimes! - and that's what made her tough enough to survive a failed marriage to a drunk, move on from that and raise her daughter alone.... working in Woolworths by day, and scrubbing floors by night.
Then she met a member of the Canadian Air Force (this was during WWII) and married him - from what I hear, a real nice guy.) But he would not see the end of the War. Back to square one.
In the late 40's, she met a Navy Veteran that turned out to be my Dad, a bit of "partying", a bit of "romance". They married in July of 1950 - I was born a bit more than a year later, in August of '51. He joined the Singer Sewing Machine Company, and became a Store Manager within a short time.
Struggled in southern Saskatchewan - moved to Oregon when I was in grade 2 - back to Canada (VAncouver) when I was in grade 5. My Mom would work full-time as a "seamstress" for a furniture-remodeler. And THEN after dinner, would sew PRIVATE contrats, until my bed-time when I was 12 or so.
At my age of 19 - they had an opportunity to get a Singer Sewing machine of their own. They jumped at it - I rented their house in Vancouver back from them until two visits up to Vernon convinced me to get the Hell out of Vancouver.
They did so well (and my Dad was ALWAYS an Honest businessman, btw!) that they paid their home off in about 6 years. For about 15 years after they retired in 1979, they wintered in a large Motor-Home in Hemet, California - about an hour or so from L.A.
My Mom was able to see me and my wife bring up two wonderful Grand-sons that I am quite proud of, and who had a close relationship with Gramma for the 14 years we lived in the same town. Unfortunately, we were then transferred - but only about 80 miles away, so the "older" boys still were able to keep in touch.
They are in their '30's now, and cant visit very often, but they have tried when they could.
I do the same; I am retired, living about 75 miles away - and have tried to go there as often as I can, .... sometimes as much as every 2nd weekend or more - Phone every second night.
She got very frail the last few years - both mentally and physically.
The reason I am posting this "talking-to-myself" message???
My Mom died at about 8:30 Pacific tonight.
It kinda sucks, ya know? ...... major.
