Ida Rachel Perkins

Ida Rachel Perkins (nee Clark) passed away peacefully in the care of her daughter Margaret Jean Lane on April 29, 2020 in Ailsa Craig, Ontario. Ida was born in Melville, Saskatchewan on July 20, 1917 and was 102 years young when she passed. Ida was predeceased by her eternal companion and husband William (Bill) John Perkins on March 30, 2007. Ida was also predeceased by her two siblings; Benjamin Clark and Ethel Clark.

Ida was born to Margaret Clark (nee Evans) and Henry William Clark (both predeceased) and lived on the family farm learning her way through elementary and high school grades to attend and graduate the School of Nursing in Brandon, Manitoba. Both Ida and Bill had lived through the Great Depression of the 1930’s as children and as a result passed on to their own two children Gregory Neil Perkins and Margaret Jean Lane (nee Perkins) examples of caring and serving family and neighbours and service in their faith.

Ida met her eternal sweetheart Bill as they were walking down the street in Brandon, Manitoba. They dated for a year and were married shortly after Bill joined the Canadian Army in January 1942. Six months later Bill left for overseas duty and they were a part until Bill’s return in 1945. Ida worked as a Registered Nurse (RN) in several hospitals during Bill’s time away and was working in the Brandon Hospital when the war ended.

While Bill attended the University of Manitoba, Ida worked as a nurse in the Winnipeg Hospital. After Bill graduated university he accepted a position with the London Life Insurance Company in London, Ontario. After renting an apartment on Elmwood Avenue, then a small starter house on Empress Avenue, they settled into the home where they would raise their two children Greg and Marg on Elmwood Avenue East. Ida and Bill had joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the home on Elmwood Avenue became a focal point for social gatherings and hosting travelling Church Leaders. Music was a special interest of Ida’s and she filled the home with music from her piano and singing. She was always humming or singing a song when working around the house, cleaning a scrapped knee or stitching patches on a worn pair of jeans.

Ida leaves behind her son Gregory N. Perkins and daughter-in-law Shannon L. Perkins, her daughter Margaret J. Lane (nee Perkins) and son-in-law Jim Lane. Grand Children; Emily R. Kategiannis and her husband Gus Kategiannis, Benjamin N. Perkins and his wife Stacey Perkins, Jeremy William John Perkins, Ema Christine Perkins, Sarah Gore and her partner Julian Elder, Jessica Lane and her partner Mike Morley, Rachel Lane and partner Mike Johnston. Great Grandchildren; Eva and James Kategiannis, Gillian Perkins, Jacob and Rachel Gore, Wesley Appleman and Emmett Morley.

The family would like to thank the caregivers at the Craigwiel Gardens Adult Day Programs and Mum’s day nurse Diane who provided her in-home care.

Due to current COVID restrictions, a Memorial Service is postponed for now.