ELSIE
VICTORIA ROBERTSON
Elsie Victoria Robertson passed away on Monday,
October 20, 2014 in Winnipeg at the age of 91.
Elsie Victoria Robertson (nee Durr) was born in
Winnipeg on May 23, 1923 to Anthony and Christina Durr, the youngest of three
sisters. Elsie developed a love of music as a child and convinced her father to
buy her a piano which, in the thirties, was no small feat. Her skill at the piano was a source of great
joy and comfort in Elsie’s life. She studied and then taught piano, played the
organ at church and often volunteered to play for choirs including the Manitoba
Government Employees choir and for other special events. Social gatherings
centered around the piano happened often at the Robertson house. Piano playing
was also prominent at Royal Lake when Elsie’s full size upright piano was
trucked in on the rough dirt road.
Before it even left the truck, Elsie was sitting at the keyboard. Friday
and Saturday nights at the Robertson cottage at Royal Lake would find Mom on the
piano, Dad on the guitar, Don Smith on the harmonica and Phil Kernsted
yodeling, the rest of us singing. Our lives were filled with music, laughter
and good times.
Elsie attended Lord Selkirk School and
graduated from St. John’s High School in 1939.
She went on to Success Business College and then worked in the
administration office at Eaton’s. Mom
was a feminist ahead of the crowd. She always worked outside the home, evenings
when we were in school and then full time as soon as Sherri was in Grade 1. She
was a data entry clerk for Sanford Evans and then a dental receptionist for a
number of years. The 1970’s brought a turning point in Elsie’s career when she
went to work for the Winnipeg School Division as a secretary in the
Superintendent’s Offices. She retired in 1984 as an assistant in the personnel
department having initiated with her partner, Bea Lawrence, a development
program for non-teaching staff
In 1943 Elsie married Jack Hubert Robertson, a
dashing young RCAF pilot. Elsie and Jack settled in Elmwood and raised their
three daughters, eventually building their dream home at 93 Talbot. It included
her longed for dining room where she served wonderful Sunday dinners. Jack
passed away too soon in 1984 at the age of 63. Elsie was fortunate to spend
many of her later years with her dear friend and companion Stan McKimm who
sadly passed away in 2008.
Elsie and Jack highly valued family vacation
time. There were road trips across Canada, up north to visit the Bridges family
and always time at the lake. First they rented cabins at Faloma and Toniata and
then became campers. Once Jack and his brother Wes built a trailer and a boat,
we joined the community in the Toniata campground. In 1964 Jack and Elsie
purchased lake front property at Royal Lake in Ontario. From then on, vacation time
was “the lake.” It was there they met Don and Madge Smith who became lifelong
friends and travel buddies. As well as the lake time, they enjoyed trips to the
Caribbean and many winters in Arizona and California.
Although Elsie enjoyed her time at the lake,
she was always curious about what was down “the road not taken” and loved to
take planned and spontaneous trips down unknown roads. Family photos show many
visits to local fairs and festivals. She
and Dad visited Europe in 1973, and in 1994 she travelled there again
particularly spending time in England where Dad and Stan spent some of the war
years.
Along with the music, Mom was well known for
her hospitality and good food. Lake,
home, trailer - the first question was always, “Are you hungry? What can I get
you?” No one ever left her table hungry!
We now have the tradition of making Dad’s BBQ chicken, Mom’s shortbread,
dream cookies, pineapple delight and holopchi. Sunday dinners will continue to
be a gathering time for family and friends.
Family was important to Elsie. She and her sisters, Millie and Mollie, began
the family tradition of hosting holiday dinners during the ’50s, ‘60s and
‘70s. Long tables filled the living
rooms and were crowded with adults, children, good food and lots of
laughter. In Elsie’s later years keeping
up with the grandchildren and great grandchildren brought her joy. She attended their graduations, performances,
showers and weddings even if it meant travelling many hundreds of miles.
Mom’s life exemplified a strong work ethic and
a belief that nothing was impossible.
She was determined to do things her way and usually managed to do just
that. She overcame breast cancer and
lived with osteoarthritis, but it was dementia that made her last days the most
difficult.
Elsie will be sadly missed by her family. She
is survived by her three daughters, Gayle (Terry Clifford), Maureen (Ken
Johnson), and Sherri (Robert Dowler). She is also survived by her
grandchildren, Kelly Hischebett (Scott), Kristen Wagman (Christopher), Sarah
Clifford (Wilson), Matthew Dowler (Lindsey) Paul Clifford (Lisa) and Simon
Clifford (Stacey) and great grandchildren Jack, Natalie, Bryden, Evan, Olivia,
Nate, Liam, Viggo, and Ryan. Mom is also
survived by her sister Mollie, and nieces and nephews, Richard (Trish), Barbara
(Dennis), Randy (Hazel), nephews-in-law Robert Prest and William Spelmer and
their families. She was predeceased by her sister Millie Porth, brothers-in-law
George Porth and Bernard Scharnik, nieces Lorraine Spelmer and Beverly Prest
and great-niece Kimberly Spelmer.
According to Elsie’s wishes, she will be buried
in Elmwood Cemetery. A family memorial and celebration of Elsie’s life will be
held.
Thank you to the staff at Kildonan Personal
Care Home where Elsie spent the last years of her life.
Mom’s last days were
marked by increasing dementia and Gayle, Maureen and Sherri thank family and
friends for their love and support, for listening, sometimes with tears and
sometimes with laughter, as we lost our Mom.
Flowers are graciously declined. If friends or
family wish, donations may be sent to Alzheimer Society of Manitoba, 10-120
Donald Street, Winnipeg, MB, R3C 4G2.
Wojcik’s Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, 1020
Main Street, Winnipeg, MB 204.586.8668, in care of arrangements.
wojciksfuneralchapel.com
“Be At Peace”
Wojcik’s
FUNERAL CHAPEL & CREMATORIUM
1020 MAIN STREET
204 - 586 - 8668
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