Maudie was born in High River, Alberta on Feb. 15th, 1920, one of five children (Stewart, Graham, Frank and
Flora).
At a very early age, Maudie had a passion for reading, particularly mystery and detective novels. She also enjoyed writing her own mystery stories. When she was still in elementary school she would create her own stories and read a new chapter to her excited friends each week, which they looked forward to with anticipation. Even as she approached 90 years old and beyond, she was reading at a rapid pace, often completing a detective or mystery novel in just a few days, or reading two or three books simultaneously. This became an interesting challenge for her children: locating books she hadn’t yet read and trying to keep up with her huge appetite for more. Furthermore, Maudie knew exactly what types of stories and authors she liked, and didn’t waste time reading what she considered boring or slow-paced writers. If they didn’t catch her fancy in the first couple of chapters, it was out with them and on with the next one. And Maudie could remember reading a particular novel from several years prior, if you happened to pick the wrong one.
Maudie loved a good joke and often clipped newspaper articles with funny stories, jokes or cartoons to share with the staff at the Swan Valley Lodge in Creston and with her family. She also wrote some short clever poems to entertain the nursing staff and family.
Maudie learned to play the piano to a high degree of skill as a young woman and even wrote and self-published her own composition for a childhood friend entitled “ My Prairie Pal”.
In her youth, Maudie’s family moved often as her father was a pharmacist who loved to frequently change addresses. As a child, she particularly enjoyed spending time with her pet cat running and playing in countryside in the Lethbridge area. She also hiked for miles with her father on many occasions. One of her moves brought her to Creston BC during her high school years and Maudie graduated there. She joked about living with her family in a converted chicken coop during her stay in Creston, and getting into trouble when she allowed a cow to occupy their kitchen on one occasion. It seemed somehow fitting that she spent her last couple of years of her life back in Creston, with her son Lee and his family living there, too. It was an interesting homecoming of sorts, but this time the accommodations were much grander and comfortable.
Maudie was a telephone operator during the war and met her husband Charlie in Nelson. They were married Oct. 14, 1943. During the war Maudie and her husband Charlie lived in mining camps in South Porcupine, Ontario with her young children Lyn and Jay, where Charlie was stationed as a hard rock miner. Life was a challenge as water rations were delivered by wagon weekly and clothing was cleaned on a child’s scrub board. Later, Maudie and Charlie and the girls migrated across Canada in gypsy-like fashion in an old Model A Ford to settle in Vancouver. Maudie later found work as a dental assistant. Even though she lacked formal training, she convinced her new employer that she had dental experience (after all her uncle was a dentist). A quick learner, Maudie managed to learn the craft quickly. She spent many years as a homemaker raising her two daughters Lyn and Jay and latecomer Lee (a surprise addition ten years later). Later, with her children grown, Maudie worked as a housekeeper at the Royal Hotel in Nelson for several years where she had many good friendships with the residents.
Maudie finally took up driving in her forties, and loved the little Austin that Charlie fixed up for her in his autobody shop. She nicknamed it the Green Hornet and loved the freedom her first-and-only car provided.
One of Maudie’s other true loves for a period of her life was fishing. She particularly enjoyed fishing from the shore along the West Arm of Kootenay Lake and mountain lakes like Six Mile and Wilson Lake, with her semi-enthusiastic husband Charlie and son Lee in tow. One of her fondest memories was fishing expeditions to the west coast with her daughter Lyn where she caught her prized salmon. She loved to remind everyone that she had caught the biggest fish compared to anyone else in the family.
During her lifetime, Maudie enjoyed sewing, gardening, oil painting, and experimenting with new cooking recipes.
Maudie was pre-deceased by her husband Charlie in March of 2009 and shortly afterwards she moved to Creston BC to be closer to her son Lee and daughter-in-law Debby. Maudie passed away peacefully on June 7th 2011 at the Swan Valley Lodge in Creston, BC at the age of 91. She lives forever in the hearts of her loving children and family: daughters Lyn and Jay, son Lee and daughter in law Debby, and grandchildren Gary and Samantha.
The family wishes to sincerely thank the wonderful nurses and staff members at the Swan Valley Lodge who provided her with loving care in her final two years of life. We are truly grateful for all that you have done for our mom and grandmother. Additional thanks Dr. Atma Persad and Dr. Randy Grahn for your care and support when Maudie needed you.
A private family remembrance of Maudie’s life will be held at a later date.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Thompson Funeral Service Ltd. On line condolences may be made at www.thompsonfs.ca