Mom was a teacher, both by profession and by nature. She had lived more than half of her life by the time I was born (she was 44), and by the time my conscious memory can recall events she was already struggling with health problems, but she taught me many things which I carry with me to this day, some of it directly, some by example.

She had left an urban environment in her early 20s to teach in a one room school in the North, far from home and family, and ended up meeting and marrying a local farmer and spending the rest of her days there, seeing her own family rarely. She did, however, have a good relationship with her in-laws, who lived less than 100 ft away, and worked alongside her husband in the fields for many many years. After the bearing and raising of young children ceased she became active in her community. She was a long time member of the local Women’s Institute, holding many offices over the years. She was also a member of the Agricultural Society as a Director and long time Secretary/treasurer, and with Dad, practically ran the Fall Fair for many years. She was a long time leader of a local 4-H girls club, well liked by the girls she taught, putting her knowledge and skills to good use.

She adapted to her new life as farmer's wife, got used to having live animals in her oven, gave up trying to grow a garden of what the sheep & cows considered delicious flowers, endured the severe winters and deep snowfalls (of which even now we cannot compare), and lived with the slowness with which this northern world kept pace with the south like getting electricity, and thus a washing machine, just after the last of the 1st 4 kids was out of diapers. On the other hand, she was blessed with a progressive husband who, with the aid of a windmill to pump water, and a gravity system water tank in the second floor of the house, made her the first home in the area with piped water and a flush toilet. She was a loyal wife who, except for legal documents, always signed her name "Mrs. .........", and a devoted mother to her 6 girls.

Mom could do almost anything, whether sewing, knitting, crocheting, quilting, embroidery or any other craft, and what she had never done, she did not hesitate to learn. She made for the house & family while her husband made for the farm (what he could not buy he built, whether with wood or metal, or adapted to suit his needs.) Together they were extremely creative.

What did Mom teach me that I value in my life? She took my desire to create and gave me the skills and knowledge to take fabric, thread, yarn or whatever, and make it into something useful and beautiful. She took my desire to tell stories and gave me the knowledge of words and how to effectively put them together to make them come alive. She took my eagerness to learn and provided me with the knowledge I sought, encouraged me to look further to quench my curiosities, and impressed upon me the value of education. She took my open mind and taught me that people are all individuals with individual traits, and should be judged for who they are and what they do, rather than what they look like, what they cannot do, or what religion or race they may be. She taught me my values and morals, the value of friendship, the importance of keeping ones word, and the need to consider other people's feelings. Though she may at times have offered criticisms, she would never utter a truly unkind word solely to hurt, and though she may have been concerned with the well being of others, she did not take part in idle gossip, and taught me not to pass judgment too hastily before knowing the truth. Mom lived a hard life in the end, suffering from recurrent gallbladder problems, Diabetes and many small strokes. She took life in her stride, and strived to overcome her obstacles. She taught me never to give up when life throws you it's curve balls.

In her 60s Mom's health became increasingly worse, until she became bed ridden. Slowly she lost her ability to knit, the last craft she had been able to do, and was left only with her reading to pass her days. Eventually it became impossible for Dad to care for her alone, though he longed to do it, and finally he made the agonizing decision to allow her to be looked after in hospital. Aside from the minor hospital stays and short visits, they had not lived apart for more than 40 years. Dad would make his daily trips, after finishing his chores, to sit by her bedside, sometimes not talking, sometimes sleeping in his chair, but BEING there.

Mom retained her sharp mind and her quick wit until her dying days. She lost her motor skills, and frustratingly her ability to speak clearly, but she never lost who she was. She retained her bright smile, that sparkled in her eyes, her genuine laugh that could bring her to tears, and (although she had difficulty communicating it) her wealth of memories & information. She lived her entire life making the best of every situation, and continued to do this to the best of her ability to the frustrating end. She died at 73, a month before their 50th wedding anniversary.