Eunice Elvira By was born on August 29, 1923, the first girl born in the Kelvington Union Hospital. She was the fourth daughter of Ole and Ellen By, preceded by sisters Mae, Claris and Evelyn; a few years after her birth, her brother Oliver was born.
Eunice excelled in school, and graduated at the age of 16. She had a desire to be a nurse, however, her father believed that two nursing daughters, Mae and Evelyn, were enough. As a result, Eunice opted for secretarial work and banking.
During the war, Clarence Gronsdal’s father moved his garage business from Norquay to Kelvington, and when the war ended, that was where Clarence first set eyes on Eunice. They had a long distance courtship, as Eunice was working in Welland, Ontario at the time. They married on June 19, 1948.
Clarence joined his father in the garage business after the war. Eunice and he built their first and only house in Kelvington, where they raised their three children - Marilyn, Carol and Murray. In 1957 they built a cottage at Greenwater Lake where the family spent numerous summers.
Eunice, like Clarence, was very musical and a self-taught pianist; much of the family life centered around music. She was an active member of the community – participating in United Church activities, rink activities, a member of many women’s groups, a willing canvasser for the United Way and Cancer society, and a great hostess of musical nights which happened with great regularity at their home.
Eunice was an ardent traveller; she was never happier than being on a plane or in a car, going anywhere. There were regular family road trips when the children were young; she loved to go on “drives” - whether to Greenwater Lake or into the countryside to see how the crops were growing. She and Clarence spent time in Vancouver and Toronto with their children, as well as travelling in Europe.
After Clarence’s death in 2016, Eunice resided in the family home until the spring of 2019, when she moved into Saskatoon to be nearer to her children. Sadly, she became ill and passed away six months later on November 5, 2019.
Eunice was predeceased by her husband Clarence on January 13, 2016. She is survived by her daughters Carol (Gene), Marilyn (Scott), and son Murray (Diane) and her grandson Michael. Condolences may be left at www.dignitymemorial.ca. Arrangements entrusted to Jennifer at Acadia-McKague's Funeral Centre 306-955-1600.
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