Evelyn Widgren

In 2006, Evelyn was stricken with Alzheimer’s disease and since 2008 resided at the Emo Health Centre. Throughout this time she received extraordinary care by wonderful and compassionate staff who understood her every need and quickly became her second family. Evelyn was a very gracious lady and was very appreciative of the care she was given. She had a great sense of humour and loved her family deeply. She was very proud of each and every one of her children and grandchildren.

Evelyn was born on June 25, 1920 in Fort Frances to Fred and Irene Beaushene. Along with her siblings Russell, Doug, George and Mildred the family resided in Crozier. Living on Kehl Road they walked two miles to school across the fields of where Kitchen Creek Golf Course is today. Evelyn learned to cook at a very young age and by the age of 9 she was mastering the art of making bread. In 1934, the family moved to One Sided Lake and rented Larsson’s Camp. In her early years, she worked at the Griffith Nursing Home and cared for the newborn babies.

On December 3, 1940, she married Telford Widgren and together they raised six children and lived at One Sided Lake. In 1946, they started a tourist camp called Rowan Lake Portage Camp. In May 1947, they moved to the camp with their three little girls Judy (5), Karla (3) and Elaine who was 8 months old. Until the camp took shape and the cabins built, they lived in a tent in the summer and with no money to move back to Nestor Falls, they stayed the winter months. Their only means of transportation during this time was an old gray mare horse and a long toboggan. As time passed, the camp grew and more guests arrived. They operated Rowan Lake Portage Camp until they sold in 1966. They then operated Deer Lake Portage Camp from 1967 until retirement in 1982. Evelyn was known throughout the community for making her delicious bread, buns and cinnamon rolls, a skill that few could master as she did. Upon retirement, she continued to make and sell bread to tourists and contributed to many church bake sales. One summer she used over 600 pounds of flour…..a lot of dough and kneading! Upon retirement, Evelyn became very involved in the Nestor Falls United Church and the UCW. Evelyn enjoyed other hobbies such as knitting and donated many hats and booties to hospitals for premature babies, she also loved to curl and never missed a curling game on tv.

Evelyn is survived by her daughters; Karla Widgren of Toronto, Elaine Bercher (Tom) of Brainerd, MN, Cheryl Bodnar (Paul) of Fort Frances; sons Wayne (Diann), Roger, and son-in-law Stan Cottam all of Nestor Falls and sister Mildred Thompson of Merritt, BC. She also is survived by 9 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Evelyn was predeceased by her husband Telford, daughter Judy, great grandson Tyler, parents Fred and Irene and brothers George, Russ and Doug Beaushene.

Cremation has taken place and a memorial service to celebrate Evelyn’s life will be held at a later date with interment in the Norman Cottam Memorial Garden Cemetery in Nestor Falls.

Should family and friends so desire, in memoriam donations may be made to the Nestor Falls United Church P.O. Box 189, Nestor Falls, ON P0X 1K0 or to the Emo Health Centre, Long Term Care, 170 Front Street, Emo, ON P0W 1E0.

Online condolences may be made in care of www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com