Born in Neepawa, MB on August 14, 1922, raised in Kenora ON – the youngest of 7 children. A graduate of Peterborough Civic Hospital, School of Nursing and University of Toronto, Public Health. Died in Toronto on February 14, 2020 at the age of 97.
Elsie moved to Dryden in 1951 to work in the Public Health Unit. This position was meant to be a stepping stone to an eventual move to the North West Territories to nurse, but Elsie met and married Keith, a young teacher at Dryden High School. Elsie and Keith raised their family of three in Dryden; Gordon (Carolyn, children Crystal and Stephen), Kathryn, and Linnea (Glenn, children Lachlann and Seija) and enjoyed their extended family of Carlos and Marilyn Raposo (children Christopher and Melissa). Special family friends were the Wood’s (Gordon and Enid). and the Standfied’s (Claude and Vi). Elsie also considered the Lam family, who came to Dryden as refugees from Vietnam (Vinh, MayLin, children Choi and SueMei), the Cheng family (Joyce, David, children Susan and Jim) and the Amarakoon family (Shiromi, Anil, children Sahan and Savini) as an extension of hers.
Both Elsie and Keith were heavily involved in Dryden community life through First United Church, Explorers,Scouts, Meals on Wheels, Dryden Entertainment Series (DES) and Princess Court – just to name a few. Besides her many volunteer activities, Elsie enjoyed being outdoors – swimming and skinny dipping, canoeing, and blueberry picking where ever they were the best. She also hosted many dinner parties and evenings of card games with neighbours, church and DHS friends.
Elsie loved learning about other cultures and ways of life. She enthusiastically hosted Rotary exchange students, and more than once “saved” travelers with car trouble on highway 17, gave rest to cross-country cyclists, and welcomed people off the Greyhound who had met one of her children on their travels. A year spent living in England in 1973/74 gave Elsie and Keith the desire to see more of the world. On Keith’s retirement in 1985 they set off for a year’s travel encompassing Asia, Australia and a road trip across the US. In 2000 they finally made a return trip to Europe to visit friends and family.
After Keith’s passing (2002) Elsie moved to Port Perry, ON and then to Toronto where she continued to be involved in her favourite hobbies – people, church, choir, gardening, and flower arranging. In her final years she enjoyed swimming, walking, gardening, playing with her youngest grandchildren and keeping-up on her family and friends in Dryden to the best of her declining abilities. Her care-givers say they will miss her laugh.
Cremation has taken place. A grave-side service will be conducted at a later date in Dunnville, ON.
Donations in Elsie’s memory can be made to Princess Court, DES, or First United Church, Dryden.
