Born: July 30, 1914. In Hayter, Alberta
Her Parents: Louis and Ellen Dionne (Garnett)
The family, like everyone else in those times, was very poor. The family lived in a 2 room house on a farm. Mom often told the story of four of the kids in one bed, sleeping crossways.
In 1926 when Mildred was 12, her Dad sold the farm and they moved to the Elk Horn Ranch at Hillside, Saskatchewan. The area was named after the creek - Lost Horse Creek. Given the times the house would have been considered to be quite large. The Dionnes were very active in getting a school operating. It was called the Lost Horse Creek School. Located not far from the farm. Later Mildred's two eldest children attended the same school.
The area was a very active community with many young people as families were large in those days. It seemed the Dionne home was a gathering place probably because of all the pretty girls there. Mildred had five sisters and two brothers. Summer was ball games, dances and swimming in the Creek. Skating and dances in the winter. People came from other districts to visit. This was before cars so if there was a gathering then people stayed with friends and relatives in the area. Not unsimilar to how I remember life at the Straiton house. The house always seemed to be bursting at the seams with people visiting. Now back to Lost Horse Creek. Because of the closeknit community and the distances people had to travel, there were a lot of marriages among the groups. This was about the time Mildred was nicknamed "Bill" which stuck all her life.
One important marriage was when Mildred married John Kraft on April 21, 1933. For awhile they lived with his family then started homesteading on their own place. They traveled by sleigh in the winter and buggy or wagon in the summer. I can remember riding in the Cutter, which was a closed-in sleigh with a little wood heater in it. The Cutter was used to visit other families in the winter, and during the week it was a school bus. They moved closer to the school in about 1939. Wouldn't our kids and grandkids get a shock if carried back to that era. No phones, electricity, cars, thermostats; and 40-50 below in the winter. I can remember Dad talking about staying up all night to keep the fires burning and with his front cooking and his back freezing. One winter living off potatoes and not much else. Dad losing a dime and it almost brought him to tears. Interesting with all the hardships they always looked back with fond memories of the times and struggles.
Their first child Geraldine Fae (Jerry) was born in 1934 and a son John David (Bud) was born in 1937. In 1946 Melvin Garry (Mel) was born and in 1949 Pauline Lynne (Lynne) was born. They all lived in a 4 room house very close to the school.
In 1950 the farm was sold and the family moved to Straiton BC where Mildred's parents lived as well as three sisters and a brother. How things change. They bought an 80 acre parcel of land with a good house, large barn, big chicken coop and only paid $2,000.00 for it.
John and Mildred enjoyed living in Straiton among family and new friends and a more social life. Life was much easier especially after John went to work at the Clayburn Brick Company. Speaking of the Straiton house. Like the Dionne house, it was also a very busy house. We would have company from the Prairies or from the States come and stay for weeks on end. I remember the many house parties we put on as kids, and all our friends would be invited. I don't remember many Sundays that there wasn't at least one if not two or three extras at the dining room table. Mom took it in her stride.
The Greatest Sorrow was the death of their son Bud in 1954. Mildred never really recovered from Bud's death. The family never spoke to Mildred about his death until in later years when the grandkids would ask who "Uncle Bud" was. 1976-77 was the first time, Mom went to the cemetery to visit Bud's grave. When Dad passed away in 1995, Auntie Beth and Uncle Dave stayed at our house and Beth was saying that Mom was such a fun loving person but that seemed to change after Bud died. It seemed that a piece of Mom also died with Bud.
Once the family all flew the coop, Mom and Dad moved into Abbotsford. When Dad retired, it took six months before the smile left his face. They enjoyed travelling, across Canada with Salmer and Violet (Mom's sister), trips to the prairies, Reno, Nebraska, and a few of the backroads of BC which is another whole story. Dad always said the best part of a holiday was the planning and he would spend hours going over maps planning routes and camping areas. Mom enjoyed Reno, which her and Dad did many trips by bus in later years (Dad would not fly). Mom's other great enjoyment was Bingo, which she played several nights a week.
In 1983 Mom and Dad celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and we had a gathering of family and friends. Letters came from the Queen (that's Queen Elizabeth), Prime Minister, Premier of BC, and the Mayor of Abbotsford or Matsqui. Plus lots of card from family, friends and neighbours.
When Dad passed away in 1995. Mom still did some travelling with Auntie Violet. Uncle Salmer had passed away several years before Dad.
On Mom's 90th Birthday we threw her a party at our house and we had family and friends from her past. It was great with people that were from Straiton and many others. It was like old home week.
Mom had good health all her life. In about 2009 she couldn't look after herself and decided to move into a carehome and we were very fortunate to get an apartment there for her. I felt the best home in Abbotsford was the Menno Home and after a few months Mom settled in. It wasn't the same as having your own home but she had more company visit her there than she did in her apartment. The caregivers would drop in on their breaks and many family members and friends also dropped in to visit with Mom. About two years before moving to the home, Mom's short term memory started to slip. Anything past a day was clear as a bell but it got to the stage that after an hour she wouldn't remember what she had for breakfast. I kept it light and would tease her about it.
One time she was complaining that she couldn't remember something or other and I said it was too bad, I guess you don't remember the trip to Hawaii that we took you on. She said with a gleam in eye and a smirk on her face, "No and I don't remember the $1,000.00 you gave me either".
Considering Mom was in her 99th year she was in real good health and it only began to fail in the last 2-3 months and then quickly in the last three weeks.
Mom and Dad leave behind a great legacy:
-Three Children and their spouses
11 Grandchildren plus spouses.
12 Greatgrand children and spouses
4 Great, great, grand children no spouses yet.And 2 on the way.
Interesting thought if you look at the numbers, I was always told that 1 + 1 = 2 but in Mom and Dads case 1 + 1 = 30 and counting.
The family would like to thank the Menno Home and all the Caregivers that made the past five years Mom lived in the Home so enjoyable and especially the final four weeks when Mom needed the most care. The people that work at the Home are a special group of individuals that show such loving care towards their residents. During my visits, there was seldom a time I didn't see one of the Caregivers with their arm around one of the residents or calling them by name as they past them in the hall way. They are truly a special group of people. Doing a job that few us would be able to do. A special thank you to Petra, Annette, Cheryl, Judith, _____, ______. Mom's memory being poor didn't remember everyone that helped at the home so if I didn't mention your name please forgive me but be assured your friendship and help was appreciated.
I would like to thank Willa my wife for her help, support and love with Mom and in my life in general. To my two sisters, Lynne and Jerry for your help and support especially during the last few weeks which was a very trying time for all of us and especially for Mom. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
The other person that visited Mom and was very helpful especially in the last few weeks of Mom's life was Patty McQuade. In one conversation with Patty, I had suggested to Patty if someone questioned her at the home about something or other just tell them you are my older sister: Patty says, OLDER SISTER, OLDER SISTER in a shrill that brought two of the residences back to life. Okay Patty, okay Patty, YOUNGER SISTER. I have always said I never open my mouth except to change feet. So to my other younger sister Patty, Thank You Patty for your time and caring. Also a thank you to Nelson and Gilda Drozdowich who were regular visitors of Mom. Mom and Dad babysat and housesat for Nelson and Gilda when they traveled and their kids were younger.
The family would like to thank each and every one of you folks for attending Mom's Celebration of Life today. This is how Mom would have liked it, lots of family and friends around, more than enough food and best of all someone else to clean up the dishes.
There is a Tea in the hall attached to the Church and all are welcome to come visit and reminisce with us about Mom's life and hear stories that we were not aware of.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18