Adelle Gordon

The best kind of people are the ones that make you see the sun where you once saw clouds. The people that believe in you so much, you start to believe in you too. The people that love you, simply for being you. The once in a lifetime kind of people. Our family hit the lottery because our grandma was one of those ‘once in a lifetime’ kind of people. She was our rock and has undoubtedly helped shape every one of us.

Adelle Gordon, of Kenora, Ontario, passed away peacefully at the Lake of the Woods Hospital on December, 15th, 2019 with her family by her side. She was born in Pine Falls, Manitoba, on April 18th, 1941. Grandma grew up on a farm near St. Georges, Manitoba with her parents and thirteen siblings. At the age of 15, grandma ventured into the work force and was hired as the head cashier at the Hudson Bay Company. Around that time, at a dance, she met her husband to be, John (Jack) Gordon. Grandma then worked as a cashier at Lazaruk’s Store for 18 years before moving to Kenora where she worked as a cook at Birchwood Terrace (four years) and later a waitress at the Husky House Restaurant (four years). She then worked at Lake of the Woods Hospital for 21 years, as a Dietary Aide, before retiring at 59 years of age.

Jack and Adelle were married in 1958 and soon had four beautiful children; all four within five years. They were married for 56 years before Jack’s passing, and loved to spend time with family. Family was everything to my grandma; she was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Grandma loved to cook and was most happy when she was making meals for others. She was known for her famous recipes and in 2018, had a cookbook made for her family; a keepsake that is only a small part of her incredible legacy.

Our grandma was also known for her blond curly hair, making moccasins, her sense of style, her beautiful legs, being a perfectionist (no BS work), laughing at her own jokes, upholstering chairs, her love of music, making deals at garage sales, her catering abilities (for the CWL) taking lots of photos, her beautiful voice, quilting, having a million pairs of shoes, teaching jigging and playing spoons (for schools and the Métis Federation), her colourful dresses, her homeade bread, making mukluks, her assertiveness, her impressive shoe and purse collection, cookies and/or cupcakes for every occasion, being stubborn, her perserverence, speeding in her little white car, her big muscles, determination (no such word as can’t), being a great fisherman (had to win tournaments or she would get mad) decorating, her storytelling, cheering on her grandchildren, sewing, picking blueberries, wreath making, making pies, homemade doughnuts, having a good work ethic, talking with her eyes closed, canning fruits and vegetables (pickled beans and carrots were favourites), her confidence (a force to be reckoned with), her singing, cake decorating, camping with her grandchildren, her love for doves, angels and butterflies, beading leather, homemade cinnamon buns, standing up for what she believed in, her multitude of energy (the Roadrunner), her golden tan, driftwood crafts, how she loved to tease others, her caramel apples at Halloween, her incredible physical strength, gingerbread houses at Christmas (tradition), her love of rings (one on every finger), breaking everything she touched, painting, knitting, making everyone feel welcome, rolling her eyes while saying “Oh well,” metal detecting, playing baseball (they called her temper), her competitiveness, her green thumb (yard looked professionally landscaped), having pride in her French culture, her patience, and so much more.

Grandma is survived by her children Dale Gordon, grandchildren Daniel (daughter Maribelle) and Sarah, Marilyn Pearson (Greg), children Kylie (Brian), children Avéa and Anderson, Jenna (Jeremy) and daughter Sophie, and Ryan (Halle), Patricia (Dennis) and daughter Janae, Donna, her son Travis (Cassandra), children Alyssa and Brooke. Adelle is also surived by her sister Diane (André), children Nicole, Lynn, Danny, and Randy), sister Yvonne Hutchison, Irene East, and her brother Édouard Lessard, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Those who preceded her in death were her late husband Jack Gordon, parents, Alfred Lessard and Marie Ann Lessard, as well as her siblings, Leoni Fenez, Lionel Lessard, Jeanette Millar, Dolly Grandbois, Leah Lajoie, John Lessard, Florence Roberts, Florette Vincent, and infant sister, Eva Lessard, her in-laws Ellen and Munroe Gordon, sister-in-law Iris Kozielec, son-in-law Michael Babiachuk, and infant grandchild Joshua Gordon.

A special thanks to the Keewatin Medical Clinic Doctors and the wonderful nurses at Lake of the Woods Hopsital and in the community.

Adelle’s funeral will be held at the St. Louis Parish in Keewatin, on Saturday, December 21st, 2019, at 11 am. A reception will be held afterwards in the St. Louis Parish Hall.

In lieu of flowers, friends are requested to make donations to the charity of their choice in honor of Adelle.

My First Christmas in Heaven

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below,

With tiny lights, like Heaven’s stars reflecting in the snow.

The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away that tear

For I am spending Christmas, with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear,

But the sounds of music can’t compare with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring, For it is beyond description, to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain in your heart,

But I am not so far away, we really aren’t apart.

So be happy for me dear ones, you know I hold you dear, And be glad I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

Author Unknown