November 30th 1912 – June 11th 2009
Elsie passed away peacefully in her sleep at the age of 96, at Stanford Place, Parksville, following complications from a fractured hip.
Elsie was predeceased by Jack, her husband of 63 years, in February 2008, and is survived by her son Bob Brandle (Donna) of Metchosin, daughter Barb Roberts (Rick) of Parksville, grandchildren Jennifer (Matt), Gord (Denise), Mike (Jennie), Cam, Jeff, David (Andrea) and Katie; great-grandchildren Ashley, Levi, Jasmine, Brody, Saige and Lillie; brother Eric Henn (Ruby), sister May Terry, and sister-in-law Dorothy G’froerer.
Elsie was born and raised as a PK (preacher’s “kid”) in Saskatchewan, the eldest of 8 children. She began her first teaching job on the Prairies at the age of 18 and served in the Canadian Air Force in Ottawa during the 2nd World War. Elsie and Jack were married in Vancouver on November 17, 1945 and moved to Prince George, where Elsie worked in the office of the Prince George Citizen. They moved to Nanaimo in 1951, raising their children on “the farm” on Maxey Road in East Wellington. In 1958 a visit to the School Board office to pay a bill resulted in an immediate job offer at John Barsby Junior High School, where Elsie taught typing for the next 16 years. (Next time you are at your computer keyboard, stop for a minute and give thanks for your high school typing teacher!) Elsie never forgot any of the hundreds of students who passed through her classroom and took great delight in following their life journeys throughout the years.
After Jack’s death, Elsie moved from the Nanaimo Seniors’ Village to Stanford Place in Parksville, exactly 10 months prior to the day she died. A special thank you to the incredible staff on Bayview Wing at Stanford Place for all of the love, care and affection you showed to our Mom during her time with you. You richly blessed the final 10 months of her life and for that we will hold you in our hearts forever.
A memorial service will be held for Elsie at
Knox United Church, 345 Pym Street, Parksville on Saturday, July 18th at 1:00 pm, to be followed by a reception. All are welcome to attend this service as we remember an amazing and much loved woman, and give thanks for her long and interesting life.