RANDALL (Etter)
Grace Beatrice
September 5, 1915 – September 20, 2012
Grace “Mickey” of Calgary, passed away on September 20, 2012 at the age of 97 years at the Rockyview Hospital in Calgary.
What do you do when they pass? Do you mourn, do you cry?
She was born in a little wooden miner’s hospital in Kaslo, BC with her twin brother. She was born at the end of the mining and exploration era that began BC. There were no mines named after her like there were for her mother. There were no lakes and waterfalls named after her like there were for her grandfather. But she was proud of living in logging camps in the Arrow lakes region before they were dammed, being burnt out, escaping, rebuilding. She was proud of living in White Rock, BC when one only got there by train, and no one lived there in the winter. She was proud of living in Port Moody across from the CPR and feeding the west bound migrants as they rode into town on the rails during the 30s (some of whom never forgot). She was proud of her life long CCF, NDP membership (always a “socialist”). She was proud of her family’s involvement in the wars of 1812 and American Independence and always maintained her UEL designation.She was proud of her connection with the navy at the (Victoria) Naden naval base. She was proud of her veteran husband, proud of her family through all their trials. She was proud of her designation as a pioneer (Salmo and Nelson) during the BC Centennial. She was proud of getting an education in her 60s, and getting her driver’s license renewal at age 89 for a 5 year period. She was always, quiet - but proud.
So what do you do when they pass? Do you mourn, do you cry, or, just be proud?
Grace is survived by her children David (Calgary), Jerryl Tancon (Port Alberni) and Jacquie Rud (Nanaimo); ten grandchildren and numerous great-children. She was predeceased by her husband, Randy and her daughter, Robyn Patricia Billy.
A Memorial Service will be held at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 300 Thulin Street in Campbell River, BC on Sunday, October 14, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. Please forward condolences through www.hffs.com.
Thank you to all of the wonderful nurses at the Peter Lougheed Hospital and the Rockyview Hospital.