Nana,

Thinking of you and reading these other posts make me smile with joy and weep with sorrow.  As you requested, we will have a memorial service where we will share our favourite memories of you.  I believe we are planning to have that memorial at the cottage which is appropriate, because that is where most of my favourite memories of you took place.

My favourite memory of you happened when I was around 13 years old, making you in your mid-70's.  You had come for a canoe ride with me and my mom.  We were about 200 metres from the dock, when Suki (a very, very blind Suki) fell into the water.  I was still busy taking my shoes off to get into the water, when I heard you stand up and make a beautiful dive into the water and swim nothing less than perfect front crawl back to the dock to rescue her.

I am very happy with who I am and where I come from, and it is very interesting to trace your characteristics to "what parent gave you what".  I know with 100% certainty, that I got my competitive spirit from you.  As Brooke previously mentioned, playing double/triple/quadruple, etc. solitaire with you was always a challenge because even if I was so happy by placing my 4 of hearts on the "board", it didn't matter because once you uncovered yours, you would just throw mine back at me and play yours instead.

One of the things that I admired about you the most was your determination.  Even in your 80's you were still driving yourself up to the cottage, where you would garden, go for canoe rides, and throwing the ball for Sasha. 
I truly believe that if there is a heaven you are up there throwing the ball for him right now.  

We will miss you forever.

Lindsay (and Mark)

To the family of Frances Craig: 
I am a long-time Unitarian in Peterborough, and I remember both your parents. I remember your father's sudden death and his funeral, and how impressed I was by all the contributions from you, his children. I enjoyed several of John's books, especially "In Council Rooms Apart", and its depiction of Lakefield as a caring community.He had interesting things, about publishing, for example, to tell his fellow Unitarians. 
As an NDP activist, I had a double connection with your mother, (and grandmother), who was a loyal long-time member, and sometimes bothered her for contributions. 
I was impressed by her in many ways. Her house, with its beautiful old furnishings and stained glass windows was a joy to visit. I could not believe how she continued to tend her beautiful garden right into her nineties. I know that at least one of you lived with her for a while, and she got great solace, during her long widowhood, from her dogs. For a long time I would see her out walking two poodles, but I particularly remember the close relationship she had with the last one (I think), a black poodle, which seemed to be incredibly intelligent, and great company. 
Her deafness did ultimately make communication difficult. I can remember knocking and knocking on her door, and when she finally came to answer it, she put in her hearing aids! 
She was a wonderfully independent, intelligent and strong-minded woman, with whose views I usually agreed. I think she must have been very beautful when she was young. 
We shall miss her, and we shall remember her. 
You have my deepest condolences on her death. 
Jenny Carter

Remembering Nana

Nana called her grandchildren “beasts” when we were small and read us bedtime stories about Frances the badger. She used to push my bangs aside so that she could see my “Craig” forehead, which for some reason she seemed to love (although I could never be anywhere near as perfect as Cathy, her one and only “Beauty”). 

With Nana, it was always a serviette rather than a napkin, a chesterfield rather than a couch, and she cleaned her teeth instead of brushing them. After a meal, she inquired whether you had “had sufficient” and she made it known to all that she could do dishes better than anyone else. 

At the cottage, you had to be prepared to have your hands slapped if you overstepped your bounds while playing double (or triple or quadruple) solitaire. And cheating was out of the question… except for Nana, of course. 

I remember some more private moments too… like the time she asked me if I would be so kind as to give her a haircut in the living room, or the time she requested (out of nowhere) that I try on her wedding dress. Once, when Dave and I were still students at Trent, we went on a winter walk in an evening snowstorm and turned up at Nana's door to say hello. When she saw us standing there, bundled in our hats and mitts, our cheeks flushed with cold, she was surprised and delighted in a way that only Nana could be. 

She was one of the most creative, self-reliant, and fiercely independent people I've ever known. I'm so proud to be her granddaughter and I miss her more than I can say.

With love, 
Brooke (and Dave)

I have many great memories of times well spent with Frances,playing bridge, discussing world events,hunting antiques and collectibles, eating her world class blueberry or thimble berry pie, her worrying if I had had enough dinner and her wise smile indicating that she knew something, that I should know. Fortunately for me visiting Brooke and Devin while they attended Trent University afforded me some unscheduled visits and allowed for a return to some old familiar pleasant memories from many years past. I am grateful for having known Francis and though I had known of her growing old as we all will, it was with sorry for her family immediate and extended that I send this message with love and respect Dawson

Frances, my dear friend, 
You have left me with many joyful memories. Your sense of adventure was evident from the start. Playing crokinole will never, ever be the same. Your independent spirit and your unmatched love for ice cream have left a smile on my face and an indelible mark on my heart. 
You have said goodbye to seat belts and can now have all the scissors you want, so 'there ya go!' 
Thank you my friend, there is a void in my life that will be impossible to fill.
To the moon and beyond...

Love and light,
 Janee (Janice)

Nana,

We will forever miss losing to you in scrabble on warm summer nights, and the long chats that always followed. We will miss spotting you paddling across the bay with Suki and Sasha. Home made cheese bread and chocolate roosters are memories from childhood not soon forgotten. We will miss sharing a bowl of ice-cream at any hour of the day and your love of all things sweet.

Thank you for fostering in us all a love for the great outdoors and for all this Country has to offer in its lakes, and forests. We love you Nana and all you gave to us. Thank you for being our Grandmother.

Love,
Josh and Sara

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Frances Patten Craig

2 mai 1920 – 7 mars 2014

Comstock-Kaye Life Celebration Centre

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