Obituary of Ileene Hall

Ileene Marion Hall Isabella McQueen, a hard working farmers wife, married to Frederick Nichole Scott, was baking bread one morning when suddenly her baby was about to be born. The neighbor lady came quickly, and two sweet little girls were born. Ireene and Ileene, identical twins. Mom was sent to live with Rose and Elmer Callendar for a few months until her mother was strong enough to care for them both. They brought excitement and joy for miles around. Even their mother had trouble telling them apart sometimes. She said that sometimes one of them would get two scoldings for doing something wrong when the other one actually did it. I think they had fun tricking everyone when they were little...because they looked so much alike. Nathan used to call auntie Tiny ‘the lady with his grandma’s head!” Mom lost her only brother, Victor at a very young age. At age 5 her twin got infantile paralysis and was told she would never walk again. Her mother prayed that she would, bathing and massaging her in hot oil every morning and night until she could crawl and then walk. As mom watched on, I think she learned compassion, strength and faith at a very young age. I’ll never forget when the specialist at Saskatoon told mom her cancer had spread too far and he could do nothing more. She took his hand in hers, gently stroking it and consoled HIM by saying, “Oh, I’m so sorry you had to be the one to give me that news Thank you so much for all you have done.” What A classy lady! What an example. She lived through the dirty 30's, but spoke of nothing but the fun they had. Taffy pulls, berry picking, hay rides and music. Every night after supper, the instruments came out and the house was filled with music and laughter until bedtime. Grandpa Scott and Edith on the violin, mom and auntie Tiny on the Hawaiian guitars and auntie Doreen playing spoons on the chair until grandpa brought her a drum. They spent hours singing and eventually formed an orchestra playing for many dances. Sometimes they would ride the train to Lone Rock, play for a dance, and then ride the rail care home in the morning. She took a stenographers course after school, then worked for Dr. Rutley in Unity ... eventually becoming a cook for the hospital and then a nurse’s aid. She loved her work, because it involved helping people and she could get along with anyone. At age 17, mom met Geoff Hall at a local sports day ... and he must have been an impressive young man as she watched him in the horse races and ball games. Their relationship blossomed and when he returned from five years at war, they were married. February 14, 1946. They farmed the homestead, raised four children (Three boys and one adorable girl), retired and built a house in Lashburn. They holidayed in Yuma, Arizona six months of the year for a good 20 years where she enjoyed people and cards, people and dances, people and swimming and PEOPLE!! She made many wonderful, wonderful friends. She took swimming lessons for the first time and various art classes. They celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary this year at Pine Island Lodge in Maidstone. Just as we were taking their picture, on the count of three, the cork blew off the wine bottle with a loud pop ... hitting the ceiling. Mom sure laughed about that! Mom loved life and had many interests, but her biggest love was people. People, friends and family are what she lived for. Nothing pleased her more than having someone drop in for coffee, supper or the weekend. She treasured her friends like gold. The amazing thing about mom was that she was always ready for company. She always had delightful treats stashed away for those special moments and could whip up a meal fit for a king in no time at all. She loved to cook, and I’ll never forget the chiffon cakes she used to make...or the wedding cakes she made and decorated for many of us. They were a piece of art. Yes, she had a special way of making everyone feel welcome and at home. She was blessed with the gift of giving. It always made her so happy to have a thoughtful little gift for someone and her heart always went out to those who were hurting. She saw the very best in everyone ... the silver lining in every cloud. I remember the day she got home, feeling very tired, from her radiation treatments. She went straight to the kitchen, whipped up a tray of sandwiches and sent them off somewhere, just so enthused and delighted that she could still help. She wasn’t one to sit around and feel sorry for herself! You always made the busiest time of the year so much fun! Dad would come in from a hard day in the field and you would have a picnic basket ready to go. We would meet McGladrys at the river, go for a swim, enjoy laughter and good fun while we ate supper. Then we would go home and do chores. Work never seemed like work, it always seemed like fun. Do you remember the raspberry bush? Mom wouldn’t let anyone go on holidays until that raspberry bush was stripped...come rain or shine! Fruit never went to waste with mom. She spent endless hours canning, making jams, jellies and pies. My favorite was the gooseberry jam! We loved the excitement of your artistic eye, always changing things in the house. Remember when we came home one day and the kitchen cupboards had huge black flowers all over them to match the bright wallpaper on the side of the room? Remember how furniture was always rearranged and new pictures were put up here and there? Remember how the house was always decorated in such style for Christmas and New Years? We used to love riding on the floor polisher as she pushed it around making the floors sparkle for festive gatherings. Remember when you had the house perfect for that special guest? With your new crocheted table cloth and flowers in place? You rushed out to greet your guests and when you brought them in, Kelvin had removed the flowers and placed his precious little potty right in the center on the table. I’ll never forget the look on your face! We loved the way you dressed up like you were going somewhere very special every day of your life. You were always the bell of the ball and I’m sure it brought many a smile to Dads face when you walked across the farmyard so inappropriately dressed. You are like a beautiful flower. We loved your clothes, shoes, jewelry, hair...everything so delicate and beautiful. In grade one, Deanna had to tell the teacher what she wanted to be when she grew up and she said “a grandma, because everybody loves a grandma.” Mom was blessed with many gifts. She was our artist, attempting oil paintings, watercolors, pastels, charcoal, and much more ... with beautiful results! We all treasure the pictures she left behind and will think of her each time we look at them. She would eagerly tackle anything. Putting on art shows, doing stained glass windows for the Anglican Church (which are still there if anyone would like to see them), posters and signs for 4-H, wreaths, portraits, pottery, ceramics, crocheted table clothes, doilies, Christmas decorations and angels. She made wedding cakes and flowers bouquets. Mom never threw away a thing! There was a use for everything. The last few years she enjoyed making plastic roses, which were very lovely. She would mold each one out of colored spoons. She gave most of them away ... some have been displayed today. Even in later years, mom loved to sing in the choir and play music. She took organ lessons from Lorna in later years and his gave her so much pleasure. Often when she couldn’t sleep due to pain, she would get up in the middle of the night, put on her earphones and play the organ. She was so touched to be nominated honorary president of the ACW for 2004 by her very special friends. She loved to see her grandchildren ... each one was so special to her. Living close to Becky, Jenna and Krista, we always enjoyed hearing countless stories about their lives and she would just beam as she told them. I’ll never forget the delightful screams of the grandchildren as they ran upstairs to see the Easter table that she so thoughtfully decorated especially for them ... with a toy rabbit sitting by every plate. Mom tackled her cancer with grace and a silent strength...determined to go on living the best she could. It lurked around silently attacking her body, but she set the pain aside, rising above it...always looking the best she could, always with a smile on her face, eager to hear from a friend, always saying “Oh, I’m fine today, how are you?” She always had enough heart and compassion left to empathize with everyone else’s problems. She now treasured each person and each visit even more fully than ever before. Every minute was precious and stored in her heart. Every conversation more meaningful. She saw everything in more detail and stored those precious pictures in her mind for later when she sat alone. God is good, he sent a robin to build a nest, not in the tree outside her patio door, but right close to the window in a wicker basket holding plastic flowers where she could sit and watch the goings on in the nest. They came for two years and she delighted in their every move. She would phone and say, the robin’s husband wasn’t liking the nest properly this years, so she flew with him over to a corner and they had words, then he returned and finished building it right! She watched as piece by piece the eggs cracked open and new life began to form. It has been a very long struggle and she has been amazing through it all. The staff at Maidstone hospital have been a big part of her family this last year. She loved each one of them and said they were like angels on earth. What a special place, what great care. She was carried through this time and her spirits were lifted giving her strength and reason to go on by the many angels on earth that visited , phoned, sent flowers and cards. You were her lifeline and she treasured you all so very much. She always wanted pictures of her visitors so she could sit and look at them later, reminiscing special times. Her most faithful visitor, DAD, made the trip from Lashburn to Maidstone every day, helping her pass the time with card games and local news. Two weeks ago, as he sat holding her hand, she looked up at him, barely able to speak, and said ‘You are the Best.” Our mother also wrote many poems. I’d like to share one she wrote for her sister when she lost her baby. God’s Special Star As you look out the window And into the night Have you ever wondered at its beauty? And it’s wondrous light Each little star As they sparkle and dance I have, and tonight I stood in a trance A special star from up above It seemed to shed music, laughter and love Only a little star With such a radiant light It was the most perfect star That sparkled that night As I thought of your news It all came to light That star shone for you Sending love in the night God took your baby To heaven on high He healed up the hurts That made it cry Then he made her shine With a love so bright To brighten your way Through the lonely night. So now I would like to add... When that star shines on you Wherever you are It will never dim Or be very far And each time you look Those memories will come Of God’s greatest gift Our very own mom Mom, we love you, we miss you, and you will forever be remembered in our hearts. Ileene Marian Hall, born May 17, 1919, passed away at age 85 on Saturday, April 16, 2005 after a very long and brave struggle with cancer. May she rest in peace and free of pain. She was predeceased by her mother and father, Frederick and Isabelle Scott and her brother Victor. She was a very loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, always putting others before herself. She will be greatly missed by her three sisters, her loving husband, Geoff Hall, all her family and friends. Thank you to all the doctors and nurses at Maidstone Hospital who lovingly cared for her. Thank you to all those who gave her support, comfort and prayers. You carried her through this time as she prepared for her journey to heaven above. Thank you to all for the donations, flowers, food, cards and support at the memorial service. Mom loved you all and it was greatly appreciated. With love and appreciation, Geoff Hall and Family. We would like to share a poem Ileene wrote to us this January, 2005 The Everlasting Light By Ileene Hall Those we love must someday pass Beyond our present sight Must leave us and the world we know Without their radiant light But we know that like a candle Their loving light will shine To brighten up another place More perfect, more DIVINE And in the realm of Heaven Where they shine so warm and bright Our loved ones live forever more In God’s eternal light Donations in memory of Ileene may be made to Cancer Research.