Phyllis

Favorite memory:

My 12th year was my luckiest year.  It was the year that I became Christine's Godmother and it was the year that Mom decided that I needed a new winter coat.  She put out the call to her Mom and sisters.  Mamere (sp?) would  visit the homes of all of her daughters and among them they would  pool resources to meet the needs.  And, they had the talent to truly produce magic.  I will never forget standing at attention while I was measured, pinned and rotated to make sure their design was a perfect fit.  I LOVED my winter coat.  It was glorious green.  With an imitation brown fur' wedding ring' collar.   And, it was one time when Mom was totally focused on me.  I didn't even know I needed a new winter coat!

What I miss:

What I miss the most about Mom is that she always needed to know my whereabouts. I believe that was true for all of us.  I never went anywhere without calling Mom to let her know I was going away and the first thing I did when we got home was phone and let her know I had returned safely.  It's the strangest thing now not have to report in.   Everyone deserves a Mother such as mine who is always interested in the safety and well-being of their children.   It was great.

Most important lesson:

Mom's character is her greatest lesson to me;  she never spoke badly of anyone, ever. And, she was very forgiving.  She was such a hard worker but it was all to the benefit of others.  What did she ever ask for for  herself?  Very, very little.  I hope we gave her enough because she deserved the world on a silver platter.

Marlene

The painting sisters: 

The caption on this picture of Mom and Aunty Theresa says it was taken in June of 1967 when they were earning their own little bit of money painting other peoples’ houses.  This is the mom I remember as a little girl; look how trim and fit she is although she had just had a baby seven months before!  This picture always makes me smile because it shows so well the special bond between these two loving sisters and the great support they gave each other always! 

Christmas pictures:

You can’t remember mom without thinking about how special she made Christmas for all of us – and any other holiday for that matter!  

Notice how in both photos she is wearing a Christmas corsage and dressed up to entertain! 

I especially love the side profile picture of her watching on with that beautiful smile, probably at one of the grandkids on Santa’s knee.  How amazing that she could look so relaxed and happy and energetic with all of the hard work she put into holiday get-togethers!  Our mom is a real treasure.

 What I miss most about mom is not being able to call her up when I have a question about a recipe or calling her up to share good news about the kids or something.

Christine

Favorite memories of mom,  from her baby girl

Why I am so lucky that mom did the things she did... like:

Organize the photo albums of the wonderful life she and dad had with each other, with all of us kids, grandkids, and great grandkids. These pictures keep a visual memory present and close to my heart.

When I see I.D.  on her kitchenware it reminds me what a great volunteer she was. This brings a smile to my face on a daily basis is how she marked her initials on everything.  She did this because she was forever hauling every pot, pan, serving spoon or tupperware to the Community Hall. I have a few of these things at my house so whenever I am in the kitchen she is present with me.

She loved a party and to be the center of attention when it was her moment, but for most other events she was the humble servant behind the scene making sure everything ran smoothing.  This reminds me to be humble.

I am preparing to be a Grandma.  I am so nervous and wish I could ask mom, “how did you know what I needed and when it was time to let us do it on our own?" I will be going to be with Sarah and Andrew hopefully for when our first bundle of joy arrives, I pray mom’s wisdom comes to me and makes me the grandma she was.  

Mom was such a wonderful Grandma. By living close to Marcelin, Lionel & I and especially our kids benefited from her wisdom- their wisdom.  When people say to me  “you have really great kids”, I say “Thank you, my parents help us raise them”.

God Bless our ROSE in Heaven, for she was one of a kind.

From Tracy, Tisa and Glenna

Tracy says:

I'm in tears at this time, life has become overwhelming. 

I miss my Nanny Pocket's strength. She held my soul in her hands through the darkest moments of my life. She had the oddest things to say and as I think back to every word - she made total sense. 

I remember taking her to see our one pound Phoenix and she was so strong.
She looked into my eyes and told me not to be afraid to love her. Your love and prayers will keep her safe. 

If you could see my fire storm girl now, Granny you would put her on a long time out. 

My big girl says a prayer before every gymnastic's meet. (Nanny Pockets please keep me on the beam!! ) She asked us if Nanny is proud she is a national gymnast. I told her even if you were a fly fisherman she would be proud. 

I sit with my Quaid and he misses her craziness and how she fixed his ducky all the time. 

Dezlan misses her pizza buns and her traveling desserts. He is all about food. 

The twins well they will hear the stories of her. 

Cheers to the best  Nanny Pockets ever

Tisa says:

It's hard to find the words to describe my favorite memories of my times with Grandma over the past 43 years I was blessed to be touched and inspired by her love. In childhood I always cherished each moment whether it be enjoying her home cooked meals, cookies, playing in the shop or just trying to beat Grampa at Kaiser. There are so many.....

As a parent, Grandma was there as well. How can I ever forget the day Adam was born and how Grandma came to stay with Gary and I to help us get through the nights and days we didn't think Adam would make. So many days helping us learn to care for our first baby who for the first year of his life struggled to learn to thrive. Grandma was there... 
And there were the many years Grandma spent painting and helping Gary and I fix up our first homes...

I remember how fond Gary became of Grandma as he learned to cut as she painted by his side. I remember me being fired from painting and in charge of food instead. And then and always then there were the times spent trying to beat Grampa in Kaiser.....

I remember our last New Years we were able to spend with Grandma in Leask and telling Andrew how blessed he was on that day to share this moment at the age of 14 with his great grandmother....

I am blessed to have been inspired by the gift of time with my grandmother for 43 wonderful years. I am blessed and will always hold my Frandma's memories forever in my heart.

Glenna says:

I was trying to find photos of Grandma and I together over the years and realized I didn't have very many as I was always behind the camera but it was fun finding some snap shots of others in the family that I had taken. 
I have been blessed to have loved and been loved by Grandma for 40 years!
When we were kids and moving every few years from base to base I sort of adopted Marcelin as my " home base" and spent several summers with Grandma and Grandpa. These summers were my best childhood memories. Learning to crochet feet for chairs, make pies, picking peas from the garden, playing cards, tending to the cemetery, listening to the ladies in the shop while grandma was doing hair, having a pop at Dave Howe's cafe, quiet time watching the young and the restless and adventures in town keeping up with Grandma! 
I am so thankful for her teachings and patience with me as a young teenage girl from the big city trying to find her way in the small town! 
I am thankful that she was able to see me marry Dan, to meet and watch my kids grow and to celebrate me becoming a nurse. 
I know that she is watching over all of us from heaven and proud of the branches that have formed from the roots of the tree that her and Grandpa created. 

I know that I am honored to be her granddaughter! 

From Rob, Deena and Sarah

From Rob:

Well for me my favorite memory and what I miss about her are one and the same..the wonderful greetings we always got in the doorway when we came to visit and talking with her in french, big kisses on the cheeks!
Grandma didn't teach me any direct lessons but what I can take away now is her always enduring love for the family. There was always a smile on her face with laughter to follow. I don't have a single memory of anything but love coming from her and Grandpa. 

From Deena:

I miss her presence and the genuine interest and pride she had in the lives of her grandchildren.  She was so humble and honest.
I miss witnessing the pure love in Grandpa's eyes when she was around.  I love the way he treated her and the playful side he would have around her.

From Sarah:

Two main dreams I have always had were to get married in Marcelin church and to have all four grandparents at my wedding. 

I didn't cry at all during the wedding until at the very end when we were standing together during the last song that Stella was singing, Andrew leaned over to me and said look Sarah, all four grandparents are watching us. And when I looked down sure enough they were all smiling, looking at me and Andrew and Grandma Diehl was waving to me from her wheel chair...that is the reason I started to cry at the wedding. I was so happy that she lived long enough to see me married and that Andrew met her.

- your favorite memory of Grandma- getting ready for bed with grandma while grandpa was away hunting. I loved wearing her night gowns that hung on the rack in the corner of her bedroom. They were a really soft worn out material that smelt like her. We would each have a glass of water at the bedside (she put her teeth in mine once). She always slept right close to me and we both faced the inside. She didn't have bad breath when she slept but it was always really warm and it bugged me when she would breathe and it would go up my nostrils.

- what you miss most about her- her presence. She was the type of person that you always thought they would be there, kinda like you would die before they would. When I went to Rivier to live, it never crossed my mind that she wouldn't be there when I came home. Same goes for went I left to Calgary. Grandma being with my family was always just a given so now when I come home from Nova Scotia, its weird, her lack of presence really changes the visit.

- the most important lesson she taught you- to respect grave yards and the people who are buried there.

Welcome.

Family.  

Like branches on a tree, we all grow in different directions, yet our roots remain as one.

It is fitting that we celebrate the inauguration of our renewed commitment to our family ties by first honouring the life of a lady who gave us those roots.  

One year ago today, we lost our matriarch, our rock.

And with that, we remember.

Please stay tuned in the coming days to reminisce with us and remember a lady who's life was full of grace and beauty.

We will start with Kyla.

Grandma.

It’s hard to think that it has already been a year since I received the morning phone call from mom, telling me that Grandma had passed away.  I think of her often and have also had many dreams of her, something that I didn’t have when she was alive.  Some days my eyes well up with tears with the sheer magnitude of how much I miss her and wish she were here with us.

When I think of Grandma, I am filled with sensory memories.  The sound of the gravel on the pavement under your tires when you pulled up in front of their house.  The feel of the green turf carpet as you walked up the stairs to the front door.  The sound of the screen door and the impact of the smell of something baking as you opened the door.  We would always knock on the door but walk right in, calling for Grandma and Grandpa as we entered the house.  Soon enough you would hear the pitter patter of Grandma’s feet as she rushed to the door.  Grandpa soon followed, unless he was napping.  And then her voice.  Her voice saying my name, welcoming me home.  And her hands. The feel of her hands on each cheek as she gave me a kiss.  Her hands were cool and soft to touch.  I miss that so much.  When you were in the house, you would here the tick tock of the clock and feelGgrandma around you all the time.  She would have her hand on your waist, or arm, connecting with you.  I sometimes forget how important that is to people, the power of touch.  Then, she would assume her position cuddled with Grandpa and we would talk.

I was so caught off guard when Deena posted her video of Grandma a few months ago.  I didn’t realize how much I missed the sound of her voice.  That was something that had disappeared much longer before she was actually gone.

So, to all of us missing this truly amazing woman, let us reminisce.  Lets close our eyes and breath in all of those memories of someone who truly shaped our lives. 

Je t’aime, grandmère.

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