Dear Jill, I didn't know your Mother but I am certain she was a wonderful person! What a lovely tribute to your Mother, I am sure that she would be flattered. I am honoured that you are my friend and I pray that the memories of your Mother will make her passing easier for you. Love you Linda

God looked around his garden And He found an empty place. And then He looked down upon the earth, And saw Mom’s tired face. He put His arms around her, And lifted her to rest. God's garden must be beautiful, He always takes the best. He knew that she was suffering, He knew she was in pain, He knew that she would never Get well on earth again. He saw the road was getting rough, And the hills were hard to climb, So He closed her weary eyelids, And whispered"Peace be thine." It broke our hearts to lose her . But she didn't go alone, For part of us went with her, The day God called her home. And so Mom has left us and I will attempt to fill a lifetime of dreams, wishes and experiences into a few words honoring her life. Even though my mother ipitimized both the word ‘Courage’ (which is the ability to discern whether a given threat requires action or endurance) and the virtue that seeks to preserve the greatest good in the face of the greatest evil and the word ‘Resolve’ (a firmness of purpose to see things through) this last challenge was even too much for her strong spirit to overcome She was always smiling and happy to see you even if she was sick. She looked healthy always!!!! and this upset her, especially when she was sick but that wouldn’t stop her from wearing her makeup and making sure her cheeks were rosy and healthy looking. Therefore it was hard to believe she was suffering from so many afflictions. That is only one of the many reasons she was loved by all. My Mother was born in Montreal on November 12, 1922 and it wasn’t long before her father (a person who worked in stables) got a job with Mr. Law and the family moved to Hudson, Quebec. Her Father Alfred and Mother Florence were new to this country Canada and had immigrated to the wild west from England to start their new married life. They were soon blessed with 3 children Roger, Marjorie, and Audrey. Florence died and shortly afterward Mom got polio (Mom was about 3 at the time} and from that day forward she would find her life a struggle {the cross she bore would always be her right leg} but she met every obstacle with courage and an unwavering strength. Mom in Children’s Hospital Her father met a woman (Myrtle Oak) and they were married. They had 3 children as well. Wesley, Keith, and Peggie. Although she loved her siblings, it was not a happy time for my mother. She spent most of her youth in the Shrinner’s Hospital for crippled children in Montreal undergoing numerous operations on her leg. Sent to England When she was 14 it was decided to send her to England to live with her Aunt Lol, and cousin Vi. She got a job as a housekeeper to support herself. It was during war time and money was needed by all. She lived in a small old world dwelling situated on Arrowe Park Road known as “White Cottage”. It backed onto an army base where soldiers were trained for combat. (The Ordinance Corp). She made many friends and danced her head off even though her leg caused her nothing but pain. You see, while in England, Mom had another operation that saw the bones in her feet removed and placed in sideways. This would give her nothing but pain {she couldn't walk for longer than 15 minutes before the skin would break and the bones would surface}. While staying in England she sometimes worked for her Uncle Fred who owned a Kennel. One of the occupants was a Cockatoo named Cocky. I heard so many stories about Cocky that endeared him to our family. One in particular was about the time he needed a bath and Vi and Mom had put him in the sink with a board placed over the opening so he could not get out. He splashed and screamed to get out to the point both Mom and Vi were afraid to lift the board to set him free. From a distance one using the broom handle and the other the mop they flipped the board over. Cocky escaped running from one to the other trying to peck them. They however, were on top of the counter. Finally Cocky turned around walked into the fireplace and came out full of black soot all the while laughing and mocking them. There came a time when Uncle Fred gave Cocky to the Prince of Wales Battle Ship as a mascot. This did not go over well with Cocky he got shell shock and picked up a few choice words from the sailors. One day Churchill, Roosevelt, and Mackenzie King met for a very important meeting. Churchill asked to meet Cocky by this time he had made quite a name for himself. His wish was granted but Cocky was not in an entertaining mood and when asked by Churchill how he was he said @@# #$ of this ##$$#@@ boat. He was dropped of at the next port and the ‘Prince of Wales’ was sunk on its next mission. Cocky on the other hand soon found himself back at the Williams Kennels. Returned to Canada Mom celebrated her 20th birthday on November 12, 1942 on the Queen Elizabeth during her return to Canada. In November 1942, the Nazis announced in radio that the German U-boat U-704 had torpedoed the Queen Elizabeth and sunk her. Naturally, this was all a propaganda ploy, but on many of these trooping voyages, rumors were circulating that one of the Queens (the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary were known as the two Queens) had been sunk. But every time, this was proved to be false when the mighty vessels arrived at their destinations. Soon, they were both nicknamed 'The Grey Ghost'. Mom was back in Canada a young woman of 20 and ready to enjoy what life had to offer. Dancing was a great elixir and seamed to be the answer to all troubles. Beautiful gowns and wonderful music. What could be better? Marjorie married a Gustaffson boy named Arnold and his sister had married a young man named Daniel Woodbury. Annie and Daniel had a son Leslie who sent Aunt Marjorie a Picture of himself to his now “Aunt” Marj. It was love at first site and Mom set out to make him hers. The rest is history they were married April 5, 1946 and Aunt Marj became my mothers Aunt through marriage. Leslie and Audrey had two girls Jill and Lori and the years we spent as a family were very precious times. Fond memories come to mind when thinking back to Annie and Daniel Woodbury {our grandparents}. They had 6 granddaughters and 1 grandson when granny was still alive. Christmas Eve was always held at their home and we were allowed to open one gift. (that being the one from granny and grandpa) Wendy and I were the oldest and got the same thing (only in different colors). Then Beverly and Carol, Lori and Moira, and Danny was on his own. Lots of fun was had by all. (Brian wasn’t born yet and Uncle Edwin had not married therefore Paul, Anna and Lyn were not mentioned in this eulogy) Mom’s Birthday matched Granny’s and so she had to celebrate it a day late as Granny Woodbury was the Matriarch of the family. (nobody minded they loved her so much). Rebekahs Mom joined the Rebekah Lodge and this was her pride and joy as far as volunteer work. She was so proud when she was voted in Nobel Grand of the lodge. Christmas parties, dances, and free movies at the theatre were some of the activities organized and paid for by the Rebecca’s for the children. Mom and dad grew up hard and they lived hard. There were a lot of parties but oooh we kids loved all of it. I suffered a severe illness when I was young and that caused great stress both financially and mentally for both parents. I however, recovered and am living a relatively healthy life if you don’t count the diabetes. Ha, Ha. MacLarens Bay Heaven on earth. We had so much fun, and lifetime friends were made. Lori found a love for gambling Ha, Ha, Ha. We all spent a lot of time sun bathing, swimming, playing cards and just having a wonderful time. Bring back those days pllleeaassse. Lori and I grew up and went out into the world on our own (2 beautiful girls, even if I have to say so myself). I left home at 15 to attend high school in Hawkesbury and live with my Aunt Marj and Uncle Arnold. This was at a cost to Mom as she worked as a housekeeper minding 5 children, cleaning the house, and cooking the meals for $25.00 a week. This was to pay for the monthly fee required so I could attend the school in Hawkesbury. During this time she had two angina attacks and her leg was always a challenge. Before I finished school my Dad died. He died on February 1, 1965. Although I cherish the time spent in Hawkesbury going to school (I also met Floyd in school) it was 3 years taken away from being with my family in Temiscaming. Mom moved to Hawkesbury and lived and worked there until June 1967 when she married Ernest Monette. During this marriage mom sprained what was considered her good leg and if she was ever going to walk again would need to have her small leg rebuilt to sustain it’s portion of her body weight. She had the operation and it was a success. She later divorced Ernie and returned to Hawkesbury for a while. Then her friend Masie talked her into moving back and living with her. Mom met Raoul Pressault and they married. This marriage was not meant to be and she found herself divorced again and returned to Hawkesbury. She moved into her own apartment, bought a scooter and life was great. She had more freedom than ever before. It was so funny I remember when she got the scooter. My sister said she practiced for hours in the driveway then she took off for Lori's house. Lori said when she arrived her hair was all disheveled and her lipstick was all over her face. It gave the impression that she had been traveling about 150 miles an hour. She moved into ‘Place Bruneau’ for a few years and made many new friends then as her health deteriorated she moved to Heritage Lodge were again she made more friends . In 2004 she moved in with me and I was blessed with her company for 3 years (a blessing from God) he gave me back the three years I had lost when I was a young school girl. However, the last year she spent at St. Vincent’ s long term care facility because it became very evident that I could not look after her anymore. And left to her own devices it was only a matter of time before she would have broken her neck. Since my mother’s impending death I have had two signs from God letting me know everything is all right. The first was on my way to Desneiges’s (Pierre’s mother) funeral. I had just left mom and the changes were drastic I knew deep in my heart it was just a matter of time. I looked up at the sky and 2 clouds had formed a dove. It was very calming to me it seamed to be telling me everything was going to be all right. The second incident was the first sympathy card I received. It had a picture of a humming bird on the front and right away I thought of the time Mom’s dear friend Maisie had died and Mom had gone to MacLarens Bay with Margot Peterson. They were sitting at the table and just outside the window was a huge tree. On the tree hovering was a humming bird. Mom said she had the calming effect knowing it was a message that Maisie was all right. In the end it was her leg (her cross to bare) that was her undoing but not until she went through the whole horrific trial of having it amputated. And you know Mom: They say memories are golden well maybe that is true. But, we don’t want memories, we only want you. In life we loved you dearly, In death we love you still. In our hearts you hold a place no one could ever fill. Our family chain is broken, and nothing seems the same. But as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again. Play: ‘I walk with God’