November 16/1928 – July 30/2022 (93)
A far away picture, of a road do I see
A familiar walk of a lady a long way ahead of me
“Heading home now”, from the breeze a faint whisper, I heard this small voice as she turned, “Mom”, that was her! She was struggling more now and seemed oh so frail
Her story a long one, with lots and lots of detail
“My children, and their family, is what I lived for”
“Each day I did love them, now I leave everyone I adore” “Farewell my family, and friends, it’s time to move on
A place to rest, and now my pains, will be gone”. The final corner just ahead of this long road now in sight
Faithfully she stuck to this changing road with her might Her walk once again would be strong, at the end of this road
Her problems aside, set free, and gone would be her load
Now reaching the corner, yes that one far, far away.
With her sweet smile and a tiny wave of her hand, she left us today.
Ethel Rosena Brauner:
born November 16/ 1928 in a car of that time period, in the winter, on the side of a gravel road near Bowsman, a small town in central Manitoba. It was about 20 minutes from their farm near her hometown of Birch River. Also, their farm was located about 2 miles away from Birch River. All farm children in these earlier years were expected normally, to be a part of the daily operation of the farm, either in the kitchen, or helping with the very young, or caring for the chickens, or milking, the feeding of the animals, and weeding the garden and sometimes, especially at harvest times, helping in the fields. These of course, were all job appropriate, considering their age, and Mom and the rest of her siblings were involved similarly.
One summer in 1946, Mom, and Brother Frank travelled together with their brother Earle’s daughter Louise, to accompany her back home to a small village called Pikwitonei, which also was called 214 on the Churchill railway line. While there, she met her future lifetime husband, Donald, and they were attracted to each immediately. Mom stayed there with Earle for a while, spending time also with this good looking young man. They then spent the next few months, taking the train back and forth between Pikwitonei and Birch River, as they were getting to know each other. They decided to get married the following June.
Mom was now18 years old and Dad was 19, and only 8 months difference in age. On June 18/1947, Mom/Ethel married Dad/Donald, on the farm at Birch River, and she changed her Brauner name to Harpe. Mom now left her birth home, and started her “new life” when her Sister Nettie’s husband, Wally, found a job for Dad, working at the Creamery in Swan River. They combined their savings, and with $350, they bought a house there, purchasing it that first year. Exactly 9 months after their wedding, on March 18/1948, Paul was born at the Swan River Hospital. That summer they purchased the rights to a trap line at Loucks Lake, Manitoba, and moved there into a, one roomed log cabin. It was very isolated, and about one day’s travel by canoe with a motor up the Grassy River, in the summer time to civilization. Once or twice, and with a special need in the winter, Dad would travel by dog team to Cranberry Portage, Manitoba, which also consumed a whole day in the daylight, one way. There was no communication with the outside world, unless a trip was taken to Cranberry. During the second year out there and in December, when Mom was 8 months pregnant, they decided that it was time to take her to a place with a hospital. Sensing an urgency, they made a decision to get Mom to a place with more help. They left a little later in the morning by dog team, and it also was during a stormy, wintery day in December. They were forced to stop overnight at a fisherman’s cabin, and the following morning the fisherman hooked up the horses to his big sled to give mom a more comfortable ride into Cranberry. Next we went by car to The Pas, to leave Mom and me at Dad’s sister Alice’s place. January 6/1950 Linda, their 2nd child was born, in The Pas Hospital. We moved away from the trap line to Cranberry Portage the following summer after the spring ice breakup. The following year, on April 9/1951 their 3rd child Lyle was born, in the Birch River hospital, while we were staying with Mom’s Mom and Dad. Two years following that, in 1953 we moved to Creighton Saskatchewan. April was born April 15/1956 in Flin Flon, Manitoba, which was just across the border into Manitoba from Creighton. We next moved into Flin Flon in 1958, and then to Snow Lake Manitoba, in 1959, and then to Kamloops BC, in the summer of 1966. Dad built a new house at all four of those moves,. Mom and Dad never seemed to stop moving, going from Kamloops, to Surrey, to Terrace, to Kamloops, to Prince George, to Kamloops, again. At this time Dad retired, and then they moved again to a much loved, and well used acreage, named Fraggle Rock, which was at Mara Lake, BC. Many family gatherings were held there, with annual reunions especially in the summer time. About the year 2002, Mom wanted to move away from the mountains, and the work was getting harder on the acreage, so they moved to Camrose, Alberta, where they lived for about 9 years before Dad passed away in 2011. This was just three months before their 64th wedding anniversary. After one year by herself, Mom loaded up most of her belongings, sold the house, and moved to April and Norm’s place at Powell River, in 2012. At the age of 84, she was still able to drive locally. At 89 years old, her Dementia and confusion ended her driving, as it became too much of a hazard for her to continue. She was burdened with the increasing onset of dementia that had been slowly, affecting her more and more as she aged. In the fall of 2019 April and Norm were planning on selling their home, and moving away from Powell River, and as Mom was talking about having her own place, but also, her need of care was increasing, to just about 24 hours a day, Linda and April started searching for an appropriate new place for Mom. Bear Creek Villa was available. It was located in the middle of a forested area in Surrey, BC. Perfect, it had a river running close by as well, and the care Mom needed at that time was there. She agreed to move there, and enjoyed her walking, and the wildlife, and the trees, and the river as well. A year later, Mom’s dementia health was continuing to worsen more rapidly, and a new decision was made, and on December 4/2020, she was moved to Guilford Seniors Centre, which also is in Surrey. The Guilford centre was a really good place to finish her days here on Earth, because they always seemed to be so capable, concerned, and caring for her. She liked to be out of the room, even when restrictions were on, and talking with, and interacting with others. Mom used to refer to the staff that helped, and talked to her, as being part of her family. Days were getting harder and harder for her, even falling and breaking a hip, requiring surgery this year. With her weakened and depleted body and her failing health concerns, she miraculously survived the surgery. During the following months, her daily health concerns were never very stable and every day was different. Her lack of food and water intake was becoming more and more of a concern for her health stability, and the open sores on her legs didn’t seem to register with her as important. She also was agitated extremely by her having to be restrained and buckled into her chair. On July 29th her strength and will of continuing on, had finally finished. Her final and new will now was “to go home”. She now seemed to recognise that her time here was complete, and her words now were that “she wanted to go home”. At this time also she softly was answering any concerned questions with the words “I am good”, and “I don’t have pain”. She had stopped eating and drinking everything, and now she was repeating this desire over and over again. Her journey here on Earth ended there, quietly, and early the next morning, July 30th, she released her hold on the long life that she so efficiently shared with us all. Linda had just returned, after a short sleep, so as to be with her again. Her admitted ending is just one example of the strong will, and determination, that Mom had exhibited during her life. Mom’s Dad Arthur, and Mom Catherine, were immigrants, and settlers to Manitoba, Canada from the USA in 1910. Breaking the land was their fresh beginning in a friendly, but uncultivated land, and a fresh beginning in their life. They also possessed this same will, and determination of accomplishing something, that Mom had.
One of Mom’s strongest wills was to be with her family, and also being there for them, no matter what age she was. Most of Mom’s other siblings had passed on: Archie, Earle, Viola, Carl, Lester, Harold, Nettie, Frank, Robert, John and Louise. Sophie Johnson, Mom’s younger sister, is the last remaining of the original Brauner family, and at 90 years, lives in her own place, and still has a very good memory. Mom’s children Paul Donald Harpe (Gale), Linda Blair (Cliff), Lyle Harpe, and April Inness (Norm). Her “grandchildren” Leanna (Harpe) Bonin (Jim), Dustin Harpe, Melanie Blair, Paul Michael Harpe (Michelle), Tammy (Blair) Mowat (Eric), Dan Blair (Erika), Ryan Inness, Darcy Inness. Her “great grandchildren”, Samantha (Blair) Phillips (Paul), Jared Harpe (Sammi), Taylor Bonin, Jenna Harpe, Payton Bonin, Xander Harpe, Pheonyx Harpe, Jasmine Blair, Marcus Mowat, and Chloe Blair, and Justin Blair, “great, great grandchildren” Grace Phillips, Alice Phillips and Easton Harpe, many, many, caring, and loving nieces and nephews. She would also keep in contact with her remaining 3 sister in laws, Bunny, Kay and Anne, and her brother in law Clarence Harpe who sadly just recently passed on as well. She also leaves behind, other cherished friends, which included one of her school friends, whom she kept in contact with until her memory faded, Peggy Moore Davy, from Drury school days, and now living in Swan River, and a long time Snow Lake friend, Bernice Kropodra, living in Melville Saskatchewan, whom she also kept in contact with until her memory faded too much. The memorial service will be Saturday August 27/2022 starting at 10:30 At the Catholic Church (Our Lady Of Good Council) on 10460 139th Street, Surrey B.C. If needed with a question, or to pass on a message about Mom, you may call “Paul” cell 1-780-913-7293 or email ([email protected]), April cell 1-604-344-2000 or email ([email protected]), “Tammy” cell 1-604-626-9819 or “Linda” cell 1-604-588-6600 Your “being with us” is the most desired, and would be cherished by all of us, with your time, your smile and your voice. Second best would be the “words from your heart” to share with those who are able to be here. Text, email or phone one of us if you have some thoughts to share with us and can’t be with us. If your desire is to give something monetary in Mom’s memory, please send your donation gift to the Alzheimer’s Society. [email protected] (In the honour of the memory of Ethel Harpe).
If possible we would like to know if plans are to come, please let us know. “Most importantly” if your plans change and you are able to come anyway, at the last minute, please come, you will be most welcomed.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.firstmemorialsurrey.com for the HARPE family.
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