I have many wonderful memories of Grandma from my childhood that make me smile when I fondly think back.  I remember our homemade soup and sandwich lunch visits at Grandma and Grandpa’s apartment, stopping by their place on Halloween every year to show them our costumes, and calling them at 7am to come over ASAP on Christmas morning so we could start opening presents. 

I am so grateful to have had Grandma as a big part of my life for so long, especially into my young adult and adult years. I will miss our visits and chats, her stories, and hearing her call me ‘honey’. I will miss the phone calls asking for help with technology, her laughter, and her sense of humour.

Grandma, I remind myself how lucky we were to have had the gift of you in our lives for such a wonderfully long time. So few people can say they were able to know their grandparents and have them in their lives the way I did, and for that opportunity I am grateful.

I learned a lot from you, about love, responsibility, diplomacy, frugality, being happy, and finding satisfaction in the simple things. Your lessons were often imparted by the example you set, a quiet sort of leadership I always admired.

I'll always be thankful for the time we were able to spend together, and for our close relationship. I'll miss you terribly.

Of everything I will miss about my grandma, I think I will miss her voice the most. When she spoke, I heard the grace and poise of her upbringing, the comfort and encouragement of a mother and wife, the knowledge and wisdom of her years, and the pride she had in all of us, her loved ones. I will always be grateful for the time spent and the memories made with Grandma. She is every bit the woman I hope to become, and hope I am on my way to becoming. 

"My earliest childhood memories of Mom are of standing on a kitchen chair to 'help' her bake at our Chalk River house, and then playing with her leftover pie dough. Years later, she taught me how to follow a recipe, how to measure ingredients, and how to make cakes, squares, pies, and cookies. Since then, I have taken great pleasure in baking sweet treats for family and friends, and I still use some of Mom's favourite recipes, that I copied out as a teenager for my own recipe files. When Mom gave up baking in her senior years, she passed on several of her vintage baking bowls to me and they bring fond memories to mind whenever I use them.

As a pre-schooler in the early 1960's, I loved to go grocery shopping with Mom in Deep River. It was seven miles away from our house in Chalk River, so she only went once a week. I remember her teaching me how to comparison shop and follow a budget, and she only had $25 to buy a week's worth of groceries to feed our family of five. When the larder was getting bare, we would have fried eggs and homemade french fries for dinner, one of my favourite comfort food combinations. To this day, I still enjoy shopping for groceries, comparing prices, looking for bargains, and thinking of Mom. 

She used to tell us girls “If a job is worth doing, it is worth doing well,” just as her mother had instructed her. Mom’s attention to detail is a trait I share and appreciate as an adult. It even influences the style of artwork I make.

Thanks, Mom, for the strong person you were, (not that I always appreciated it at the time!), for the life skills, intelligence, and common sense you passed on to us girls, and for the example you set for us, to live lives that matter. I'm sorry for any sadness we caused you as we fumbled our way to full adulthood, and hope you always knew that we loved you. "

I miss you, 
Karen

(This message was sent to Aleen and Wally at their 50th wedding anniversary party in 1993.)

"Wally and Aleen got to be very good and sincere friends during their "homesteading" years in Chalk River... One of our fondest memories of them took place way back in 1976. Our children, the "group of seven" had taken us to Pembroke for a Chinese dinner for our 25th anniversary. On our return to Chalk River, instead of driving back home, they took us a block further to Wert's, where a large group of friends, from in and out of town had gathered to celebrate with us. All this had been planned and going on right under our noses. It was really appreciated."

Bob & Gladys Sequin and the 7 Ups!

(This email came from Linda Seguin, one of seven siblings who grew up in Chalk River. Linda went to school with Joyce.  Linda's parents were close friends with Aleen and Wally.)

"Karen, 

We are SO sorry to hear of your Mom’s passing.  Such a wonderful, warm, positive woman, with a real sense of enthusiasm and curiosity, who took a great interest in many subjects and seemed to really enjoy her life.  And such an infectious laugh!  She was so proud of her three girls and so happy and satisfied to see them become successful in life, and love.  Truly a great woman and role model for the rest of us who knew her!  So many great memories of her, and all of your family.  We will miss her.

Thinking of you, John and the whole extended family at this difficult time,

Linda and Aziz


"We first met Aleen in August 2008 when David was departing for Taiwan. We have tried to host an annual dinner for all the Yuens and our other son's family, and thoroughly enjoyed each occasion when we had the pleasure of Aleen's company.

She will be greatly missed. She was an unusually vibrant and clever lady, with many interests and a wonderful sense of humour and her love of life. I enjoyed hearing her stories of her work in England during the war years - what a legacy!

May she rest in peace."

Sharon Allman & Iz Goto

"I recall that Aleen was coming out on the train to Calgary to help out Joyce with the birth of our second child. But Jennifer couldn't wait and showed up a couple of weeks early, so she met Grandma as she got off the train."

Bryan

"The first time I met Aleen was in 1975 when Karen invited me to dinner at their place in Chalk River. Dinner was a great roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. I brought a small pot of live plants as a gift and I think that it made a great impression. But looking back, Aleen seemed to welcome all with a great roast beef and Yorkshire pudding dinner."

John

"Happy memories of our lunches together.

A lovely lady, always thinking more of others than of self."

Kaye

"Aleen, 

What can I say? The most intelligent, funny, generous, determined woman I knew.

Our movie nights and lunches out were always fun and we always had too much to say to each other.

I will miss those times."

xxx Verle

"Grandma,

Your fun spirit and loving personality will be missed. However, never forgotten."

Love,
Sean & May

"How I remember Grandma,

She took me to the White Rock Playhouse when I was little (that's how I got interested in theater).

She got me to British tea."

"Grandma arranged my first art commission - her neighbour hired me to draw a Cedar Waxwing - always supporting and encouraging.

Grandma loved and appreciated Dorienne right from when she met her. We loved taking quick trips to the coast and staying with Grandma and Grandpa.

I am so thankful my kids got to know and love their great-grandparents. What a blessing to have that connection."


"Grandma, I will always remember your love of "gorgeous" weather, beautiful flowers, great food, delicious tea, baseball, and time with loved ones. I will miss you and feel so blessed to have had such a wonderful time with you."  xo  Jen

(This note came via Facebook from the son of Bud and Audrey Wilson, who were neighbours and good friends of Aleen and Wally in Chalk River.)

"So sorry to hear about your Mom passing. I remember her as a very nice, classy lady. She and your Dad were good friends to Mom and Dad."

(These sentiments were expressed at Aleen and Wally's 50th wedding anniversary in 1993, by Aleen's old friend and fellow volunteer from the Chalk River years.)

"Aleen, I will always remember gratefully your dependable help at the library, your kindness as a caring person and your endearing humanity."

(This note was sent on the occasion of Aleen and Wally's 50th wedding anniversary in 1993, by the husband of Ruth Abbott, who was a close friend and fellow nurse to Anne Yuen.)

"What impressed me most about Wally and Aleen was their ability to combine a penchant - even a passion - for organization with a capacity for spontaneity. Both of them, despite the best efforts of Father Time, exhibit a zest for life and a gameness that belies their years... We saw it in the verve with which the two of them went sailing with us on a visit to Sault Ste. Marie.

From time to time I've told Ruth that Aleen and Wally ought to be the role models for our own golden years."

(This email message came from Aleen's niece Marian Hilton, daughter of Aleen's half-sister Marjorie Woolhouse, now deceased.)

"Oh no! I am so sorry! I guess we have to be grateful that she had a long and happy life. I'm sure she was ready and looking forward to being reunited with our other loved ones who have gone on.

I loved her very much and she has a special place in my heart - lots of happy memories to reflect on!"


(This email message came from the daughter of Aleen's long time girlfriend and fellow war bride Violet MacKay, who is deceased.)

"I have such fond memories of Auntie Aleen. My first memory is May 1956 when my mom and I were sailing from Montreal to Scotland.  Aleen and Wally came to the pier.  The passengers were given paper streamers and Auntie Aleen and I held streamers as the ship left till the paper broke...

We have so many memories as our Moms were such good friends.   When I got married, your family and Aleen's Dad came to Lively.  I still use the casseroles that she gave us. 

This past September, Len and I visited Aleen and she told me more stories about Mom and Aleen in the war time. In fact she even recalled how they met in London.  I'm so glad we saw her as she was well and enjoyed our time.  She made tea and we stayed for quite a while.  Her Christmas letters full of news about Karen, Joyce and Anne, were usually a lot earlier than mine and inspired me to get busy.

Aleen was an amazing woman in so many ways.  I just think how adaptable she was when it came to computers.  I think giving her the iPad was a great idea and she learned to use it - at ninety eight - that is amazing.

I will cherish my memories."


(This anecdote came from Aleen's cousin Lilian and was shared at Aleen and Wally's 50th wedding anniversary in 1993. Lilian has since passed.)

"It happened the day Aleen was to be married. Wally was staying next door with friends of Aleen's parents. In true tradition, the groom was not to see his bride until they met in church. Well - Aleen at that time was troubled at times with Lumbago - she was having her bath prior to getting dressed in all her finery. When getting out of the bath the lumbago struck. She yelled for her mother, the bathroom door was locked from the inside, Aleen couldn't move - the only person there capable of climbing through the bathroom window was - Wally. So he truly saw his future bride, soaking wet with just a towel to hide her blushes. How's that for the memory book!"

(This anecdote came from Aleen's long time British girlfriend Muriel Spoor, on the occasion of Aleen and Wally's 50th wedding anniversary in 1993. Muriel has since passed.)

"It doesn't seem like 50 years since Aleen and I were in Trowbridge barracks [England 1942] and Reggie Holmes said 'I'd like you girls to come meet a bunch of Canadians tonight. They are real nice lads.' Aleen and Wally just seemed to take to each other like ducks to water, and Aleen came back to barracks that night with stars in her eyes. I believe they are still there. Look what it all lead to - three great, caring daughters and their lovely families, plus many miles of globe trotting and Canada-trotting, and many friends - like the League of Nations."

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Aleen May Wert

16 mai 1920 – 9 mars 2018

Victory Memorial Park & Funeral Centre

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