Obituary of Audrey Earl

Audrey Edith Earl passed away at the Lloydminster Hospital, Lloydminster, Saskatchewan on Thursday, December 29, 2016 at the age of 91 years. Audrey is survived by: her daughter, Evelyn (Ernie) Brazunas; and granddaughters, Richelle (Todd) Connaghan and great grandson, Adam, and Marnie (Cam) Davidson and great grandson, Logan; and Kara (Steven) Reynolds; her son, Ken (Maralynn), and grandchildren, Dustin (Nicole) Earl and great granddaughter, Kaitlin, and great grandsons, Jarret, Lucas, and Riley, and granddaughter, Kim (Lyndon) Ford, and great grandchildren, Denver and Mayla; her daughter, Cathie (Paul) Winterhalt, and grandson, Aaron, and granddaughter, Ashlyn; sister, Doris Brown; brother, Chris Bysouth; special friend, Gail Sawchyn; brother, Bob (Kaye) Bysouth; and numerous nieces and nephews, and dearest friend, Edith Paul. Audrey was precedeased by: her beloved husband of 58 years, Elric; her parents, Gifford and Rosa Bysouth; brother, Eric (Helen) Bysouth; sister, Phyllis (Vern) Langston; sister-in-law, Jennie Bysouth; brother-in-law, Len Brown, and all Elric’s family. The Memorial Service will be held for Audrey on Thursday, January 5, 2017 at 2:00 at the Kitscoty Community Hall, Kitscoty, Alberta. Donations in memory of Audrey may be made to the Lloydminster Handi Van or Lloydminster Hospital Palliative Care. Audery’s family wish to thank Dr. Jolene Kenyon for her many years of caring for Mom, the nurses and staff of Lloydminster hospital, especially those on the palliative care unit. We also wish to thank Rev. Bob Aldrich for his touching memorial service and his kindness in coming out of retirement (again), the lovely music of organist Gail Sawchyn, and soloist Ida Grocock, Richelle Connaghan for her loving eulogy for Grandma, Ashlyn Winterhalt for the great job on the power point, Dustin Earl and Aaron Winterhalt for being urn bearers, Kari’s Country Kitchen for catering the lunch, all our friends and family for the lovely flowers, donations in Mom’s memory, food brought to our homes, the cards, phone calls and visits, and to Brett and all the staff at McCaw’s for their help and professionalism at this time. We appreciate it all so much. Thank you, Evelyn, Ernie Brazunas and family Ken, Maralynn Earl and family Cathie, Paul Winterhalt and family Eulogy for Audrey Edith Earl nee Bysouth My Grandmother, Audrey Edith Earl, was born on March 25, 1925 at the Lashburn Hospital to parents, Rosa and Gifford “Tom” Bysouth. Her great inner strength and independence was evident from the very beginning. She arrived 2 months early, in the middle of a snow storm, after her parents had to journey by horse and wagon 24 miles to arrive at the hospital just in time for her arrival - an extra 4 miles as apparently her dad had forgotten his tobacco pouch and had to turn the team around 2 miles in to the journey. Audrey was one of six children in the family. Together with her sisters and brothers, Doris, Eric, Phyllis, Chris and Bob, they were raised on the homestead her dad started in the Lenwall District near Hillmond, Saskatchewan. Grandma acknowledged it was a difficult life for all - which likely resulted in the close-knit relationships she maintained with all her brothers and sisters throughout her life. She would speak fondly of the good memories - of going on great adventures picnicking and saskatoon berry picking by the North Saskatchewan, of her brother, Eric, icing up an old table each night so that they could go sledding the next day, of her sister, Doris, telling grand stories to keep them entertained on their long walks to school, of her dad singing folk songs like “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary”, of her mother sharing stores of the magic of city life and of growing up in London, England, of wartime when her dad signed up again to join the Canadian Army and of feeling like a princess when she had a chance to visit him with her mum at the Bessborough Hotel in Saskatoon, and, of always such treasured and cherished care packages sent from Great Aunt Margaret in England to make their holidays special. At the age of 4-1/2 years, grandma started her schooldays early at the Lenwall School District as the school had needed a certain number of children registered to become operational. Grandma remembers trying to run away from school on many occasions due to homesickness - jumping off the wagon as soon as they arrived and then running the 2-3 miles home. It was an ongoing family joke that grandma was always afraid of “bears in the bush” and between this fear and of the strict discipline she received at home on arrival, she never missed again. Grandma continued school until her grade 9 year when she fell ill and was hospitalized with appendicitis - the surgeon having to come in from North Battleford to perform the operation. It was a long recovery and by the time she was ready to return to school, her mom felt she had missed too much and it was time to start earning a living. Grandma always said education was our future and to seize whatever opportunity we would have in life. Grandma became a “hired girl” at the age of 13 caring for a large family and completing the necessary household and farm labor required of her. Grandma acknowledged that she was still a kid herself yet had to work so hard and eventually did run away from this position due to the difficulties she encountered and her longing for home. Grandma was never one to give up and was always known as a hard worker and had been her entire life so we know these circumstances must have been far too much. Given the need for additional income and at her mom’s suggestion, she then tried to enlist in the Women’s Army traveling to Regina to enroll only to be turned away as she was too young - at just 15 years of age. Knowing she had to make her way, she faked her age and then applied for a position with the Young Women’s Christian Association and was trained to use a metal lathe to make gun barrels as part of the war effort. Grandma worked long hours in this job and took on extra positions as a cleaner as neither provided her with enough money to live. Eventually she was forced to return home again after being hospitalized from malnutrition. Given the ongoing need for money and again at her mom’s urging, she applied to work at the Alberta Psychiatric Hospital in Edmonton however ended up running away as a result of the working conditions there. She shared that it was war time and there were a lot of people struggling with a number of psychiatric difficulties and that she saw and experienced far too much there. Every time she arrived home, her dad would always say “Home Again Audie?” and give her a hug. She notes that despite his gruff demeanor, there was always kindness towards her and she was her “dad’s girl”. Grandma’s 18th year was a significant turning point for her as she returned to Lloydminster and started to work at the Royal Café. She always described her boss Mr. Don Lem as the kindest, most understanding and patient man she had met and how much she loved her work at the café. Grandma had been a very shy person up until this point but learning to work as a waitress introduced her to many people, people that would become lifelong friends and the start of her love of working with people. Together with her best friend, Velma, they rented a room at Aunt Dot Evans’ boarding home which is how she came to meet the Earl family and eventually my grandfather, Elric Earl. Grandma often shared the story of seeing grandpa’s picture displayed on the piano at the Evans’ home with that of his brother, Brison. They were both serving overseas at the time. She said she would often joke with others pointing to grandpa’s picture saying ‘that was the man she would marry’. Then, with a smile, she would tell us “and I did”. Grandma was introduced to Elric after he returned from WW2. Grandma always spoke of him as the one she loved and they were engaged during Christmas of 1948 and married on Easter weekend in 1949 surrounded by family and friends. Their marriage was the starting point of their life together and of many treasured memories that would follow. Sometimes, I wonder if my grandmother is the only woman in the world to have been courted with the words of grandpa’s much-loved poet Robert Service and the poem, the Cremation of Sam McGee, which grandpa would recite by memory to her often. Grandma always said you make your own world and always considered herself lucky in life. She said that the dreams she had in life that really counted happened for her and that at each sunrise and each sunset, she would thank God for her blessings. We know the first years were tough for our grandparents as they made their way in the world but grandma would always say that this was the same for everyone at the time. She spoke of the first year being especially difficult and lonely for her on the farm as grandpa had to leave for work during the day and sometimes would not be able to return until the late hours of the evening. She notes that this changed when one day grandpa surprised her with a dog to keep her company - the first of many dogs you may remember named “Mike” in the family and a lifetime of many well fed dogs and cats in her house. The next beginnings of my grandma’s blessings arrived with the birth of my mom, Evelyn Louise, in March 1950, my uncle Kenneth Elric, in June 1954 and my aunt Catherine Janice, in October 1963. Grandma spoke of the absolute treasure and of how wonderful it was to hold her own babies, raise them and love them. Family was always so important to grandma and she was always so fiercely proud of all of us. Grandma’s Thomasville days and memories of life on the farm were some of her best. Grandma cherished the mutual support and lifelong friendships that grew from their Thomasville days - memories of everyone gathering to help one another, of picnics, ball games, dances, card games and events at the local hall. Grandma always had a pot of coffee and a tin of butter tarts ready to serve any neighbor that might drop by for a visit. I think it was her own mother, Rosa, that taught her the ability to nurture and love others through the gift of food. Her friends and neighbors, the Allen’s, the Paul’s, the Barrett’s, the McKay’s, the King’s, the Green’s, the Earl’s and the Willouby’s were always so dear to her. She loved these times and always said that being outdoors and living the farm life recharged her. There was always the daily struggle of life on the farm with seeding, haying, thrashing, care of the animals, gardening, canning and berry picking, but this was also a source of her joy. Audrey’s greatest wish was to help others. She did this through her years of life on the farm, raising her family, being a part of the Thomasville-Kitscoty community, as a cook at the Wheatfield Inn, and later, her many years as a volunteer at the Interval Home Store. She came from a very shared experience of growing up with nothing , being thankful for everything, and giving what she could to all those who came into her world. She loved serving others whether it was treating customers to her homemade buns and famous cooking at the Wheatie, working at the Interval Home Store with the many amazing women she met, or of spending time and showing love to the children that came through the store or Interval Home and in so much need of this. She was particularly proud when her grandchildren would come spend time and volunteer at the Store with her. Grandma and grandpa were able to spend some good times together during their retirement years traveling to many destinations in the United Sates, Yukon, Alaska, and across Canada to both coasts. Grandma loved to travel and loved seeing the ocean and the mountains, but was always a person who was happy to come back to the prairies as this was “home” to her. She loved visiting her sisters and brothers on the coast, spending time with their families and other relations that would visit from England - it was always a hectic time traveling with one another from place to place. It’s no wonder grandpa eventually just chose to stay at home and put his feet up. There was always visiting, singing, laughing, stories, and sleep-overs between grandma and her sisters and brothers when they were together. She made us all feel special and loved - there was nothing better than a hug from grandma! She taught us to see the joy in the simpler but more meaningful moments in life like the beauty and promise of the first crocus in spring, the smell of roses, the feeling of sunshine on your face, sliding down hills on your bum in winter, getting together with family and friends and the fun and laughs that came from this, of quadding through open spaces through the countryside, hearing the heartbeat of a great grandchild for the first time in her life, of a campfire and wiener roast, the beauty of hoar frost, and of the fun of an apple and gingersnap drive. Audrey’s greatest gift to us all was her love and the importance of family and friends. She was always thankful for the people in her life. I would like to think this service is just grandma’s way of having another chance to have just one more coffee and lunch with you - she was always happiest when people were enjoying the food she always prepared with love and always in abundance. I know that every day was a gift to her and that she cherished every bit of time spent with each of you. I would like to share with you a poem my grandma wrote to my grandpa as part of her vows that I believe says so much about my grandmother and her outlook on life. Life was never about possessions but the people in it. “Always my darling, I will love you. Sharing life’s worries and good times with you. I’ll laugh when you’re happy, I’ll cry when you’re sad. I’ll be that best friend - that you ever had. And at life’s sunset, together we two, I’ll be so thankful, I’ve shared life with you!” She always believed she had been lucky in life and that she had always reaped more than she had sown. How do you fully capture the life and the woman that was our mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend in so few words? Everyone will have so many different and positive recollections and memories of their lives with my grandma. I know her hope and wish for each of you would be for the sun to dry up your tears and leave only the happy memories of her wthin you. She said she was never sure why grandpa chose her - she would say, “I guess I was a fun person?” She was amazing! On behalf of our family, thank you everyone for coming to share this day with us.