It is with sorrow that we announce the passing of Ida Beryl Elder on May 4, 2020. Ida was born Good Friday March 30, 1934 in St. Boniface Manitoba to Carl and Marjorie Huss. She grew up in East Braintree with 3 younger sisters, Irene, Mary and Doris and her older brother Keith. She was predeceased by her parents and her brother Gus who died in childhood, her loving husband Gordon, her sisters Irene Henderson and Mary Wiebe. She is survived by her daughter Marlene, son Michael and favourite daughter-in-law Anne, her granddaughter Miranda who shared a birthday with her and her great-granddaughter Millina, her brother Keith (Aileen) and her sister Doris, several cousins and many nieces and nephews.
During her childhood in East Braintree Ida developed a love and appreciation of the outdoors which lasted throughout her lifetime. She attended Glenn School in East Braintree and high school in Teulon Manitoba. She took a job at the Winnipeg General Hospital (now the Health Sciences Centre) and completed her psychiatric nurses training. After working at the Selkirk Mental Hospital she worked at a mental health facility in Coquitlam. After living in BC our family moved back to East Braintree. Ida was very proud of her nursing career but unable to work as a nurse there, threw her energies into making a home for her family, community work and pursuing a number of hobbies. She volunteered at the Reynolds Community Hall in Prawda. She was close to all her siblings and there was always much visiting and laughter around the kitchen table. She was a gardener and we benefited from her green thumb. She loved wildlife and wildflowers. She had an interest in geology and created stone jewelry. She did stone carvings as well. She wrote the East Braintree column in the Carillon News and upon her move to Kenora her best friend Lorraine Kerr took it over. Mom wrote award-winning stories and poems which were published in the Carillon. She was musical and taught herself to play the violin and harmonica by ear. She loved books and opened a used book store in East Braintree. Although she professed to hate travelling, Mom always enjoyed her BC trips to visit the Elder family. When Dad retired they did more travelling across Canada and into the States.
Thanks to her favourite niece Harriet for her many visits to Mom over the years. Thanks to Gayle Martell who ferried Mom around to her various errands and played many a game of Scrabble with her. Thanks to the First Street South neighbours (Kirk, Carol Lee, Barb Duguay) for looking out for Mom. Special thanks to Josie Strain who spent much time with Mom before her move to Birchwood. While at Birchwood her sketching, something she had been doing most of her life, really kept her busy and the staff, residents and visitors entertained. She enjoyed her visits with Lorraine. Mom’s interest in people never waned and she could usually be found at her post by the door greeting everyone with a smile.
During her time at Birchwood there were many who took care of Mom. A very special thank you to Mary Puls who always could coax Mom to participate in social events as she loved to dance. Thanks to Charito Gallivan, NP Mike Limerick, Mark and the nursing staff and all who was kind to her.
Mom’s ashes will be interred at the East Braintree cemetery this summer and there will be a Celebration of Life with family and friends at a later date.
If so desired donations can be made in Mom’s name to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or a charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be made at www.brownfuneralhomekenora.com
BROWN FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTRE ENTRUSTED WITH ARRANGEMENTS.
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