Obituary of Thelma Hastings

BIOGRAPHY HASTINGS ~ Thelma Marie Hastings passed away at the Dr. Cooke Extended Care Centre, Lloydminster, Alberta on Friday, February 24, 2012 at the age of 84 years. Thelma will be sadly missed by her loving husband George of Lloydminster; four children: Ken and Ann Hastings of Lloydminster, Doug Hastings of Lloydminster, Iris and Bryon Davis of Lloydminster, Millie and Richard Benoit of Calgary; nine grandchildren: Laura Hastings, Riley and Angela Hastings, Matthew, Adam and Scott Davis, Megan, Nicole and Cameron Benoit; five sisters and one brother: Doris Conlon of Lloydminster, Pat and Roy McAllister of Lloydminster, Alfred and Mae Nelson of Maple Creek, Freda and George Tokarek of Edmonton, Agnes and Mike Breen of Edmonton; sister-in-law Kathleen Hastings of Kelowna, BC; brother-in-law Keith Hastings of Kelowna, BC as well as numerous nieces and nephews and countless neighbors and friends. Thelma was predeceased by her daughter Agnes in 1973. The funeral service was conducted from the Grace United Church, Lloydminster, Alberta on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 10:00 A.M. with Joyce Carson officiating. The eulogy was given by Ken Hastings and Doug Hastings. The Proverbs 31 was read by Lawrence Davidson. The hymns sung were "In The Garden" and "His Eye Is On The Sparrow" accompanied on the organ by Irene Knowlson. The soloist was Jeanine Hatchard singing "On Eagles Wings." The Grace United Church Choir sang "May The Love Of God Shine On You Today." The honorary pallbearers were All Those In Attendance. An Eastern Star Honorguard was in attendance. The active pallbearers were her Grandchildren. The interment was held in the Golden Valley Cemetery. McCaw Funeral Service Ltd., of Lloydminster, Alberta administered the funeral arrangements. CARD OF THANKS The Hastings Family would like to thank all who visited and cared for Mom over the last several months. Thanks also for the care and concern expressed today through your presence, your cards and flowers. We appreciate the special care Mom received at the Dr. Cooke Extended Care Centre. EULOGY Ken says: Thelma Marie Hastings was born in Lloydminster, May 19, 1927 to Nels and Agnes Nelson. She along with four sisters: Doris, Pat, Freda, Agnes and one brother Alfred grew up in the Kinnaird School district south of Kitscoty. Mom completed her high school education in Kitscoty and went on to teach school there for a short time before moving to Lloydminster where she worked as a cashier at the Co-op Grocery Store. About this time, so we have been told, Dad noticed this beautiful girl and started shopping for groceries quite frequently at that same store, often driving in all the way from the farm for the smallest thing. Mom's employment there lasted four years, four months and four days and Dad often told us that Mom was the best item he ever got from the Co-op store. Doug says: Mom married George Hastings on July 8th, 1953 and together they built a house and a home on the family farm south of Lloydminster. Agnes was born in 1954, Ken, Doug, Iris and Millie were welcomed additions making the family complete. Mom was predeceased by Agnes in 1973. Twenty four years ago, two grandchildren were added to the Hastings family and that number increased to nine, each one bringing joy to both Mom and Dad. Almost 60 years of marriage have been chock full of memorable moments. I'm sure each one of you have many wonderful stories of your own personal experiences you shared with Mom. Mom passed away February 24th, 2012 in the Dr. Cooke Extended Care Centre at the age of 84. Ken says: I remember Mom in the Garden. When each of us was old enough we helped her seed rows of peas; pushing those big seeds down into the soil as she laid them in a straight row before us. Then she would let us gently water the row, the watering can was always just the right size for us and I don't know how she did it but it always held exactly the amount of water we could handle. Some days later, she would celebrate with us the emergence of those new seedlings and then as the days past we would carefully weed under her watchful eye. Mom would point out the weeds and the peas but we were constantly asking "Is this a weed? Is this a weed?" Always patiently teaching us which was which. If we did pull out a good plant, Mom would show us how to transplant it, give it water and all was good again. Together we cared for the garden throughout the summer, watering, weeding and watching for insects and diseases. It was somewhere along the way that Mom taught some of us that earthworms were good, frogs did not harm but they did not belong in our pockets. As a family, we rejoiced in each harvest. No matter how the year went, there always seemed to be more than enough for us and so Mom naturally shared with others. As we grew older, many of us developed tastes for some garden produce and not for others. Today I would like to apologize to those of you who did not lock your vehicles when visiting the farm in the fall. I think we got pretty good at hiding zucchinis in your vehicles and hoped you didn't notice them before you left. I remember Mom in God's garden. She was thrilled to watch birds, butterflies and new born kittens and to walk meadows bursting in colors of bloom. Each spring she helped us walk up the steep path behind our house to celebrate the splendor of the crocus hill. Late summer, Mom rejoiced in the Saskatoon harvest with several other families on the Blackfoot Hills, where kids filled their stomachs and adults filled their buckets. Mom was always pointing out the beauty of nature at every step. It was her and Dad's example that taught me how to pause and hear the majesty of every sunset. There was a poplar tree in our backyard, just past the small garden. It held a nesting box Dad made and each year a pair of Robins built a nest there. Just old enough to peer over the window sill, I would watch as their nest took shape. One day Mom walked with me back to that tree and lifted me up so I could see into the nest. In wide eyed wonder, we both gasped in joy as 5 blue eggs came into view. We knew something amazing was underway and after that we watched from a distance. Eventually, back behind the window we saw the 2 adult birds feeding their young and teaching them how to fly. One day Mom and I repeated that walk back to the tree and I was lifted up to gaze into an empty nest. The cycle complete, we looked forward to the next season. As years went by I think each one of us was introduced to that Robin's nest in exactly the same way. That was Mom in God's garden. Doug says: Today we celebrate the life of an amazing Lady. A mother, grandmother, wife, sister, friend and neighbour, Thelma Hastings was one-of-a-Kind...the most caring, giving, loving, person I have ever met and I'm very proud to say she was my Mother. Mom taught us at a very early age, the importance of giving to others and putting other people's needs ahead of ours. She taught us through her words and actions - through her life, how to be a true servant of God's love. Mom was an unbelievable cook. Her meals were legendary. Salesmen and implement dealers would stop by our home at 11:30 or so to meet with Dad, they would get a sniff of that amazing aroma that was Mom's kitchen and then they would hear Mom's famous words "would you like to stay for dinner?" At mealtimes, Mom would regularly set an extra plate and welcome any guests. They would enjoy an amazing home cooked meal and remember to come back next time just before meal time where the standing invitation would be offered again. But it was through her tasty desserts that Mom taught us her best lesson. Fresh baked apple pies topped with ice cream and cheddar cheese stuck under the crust: Lemon pies - 2" thick with mountains of meringue piled high...they were works of art! I wasn't real good at math as a young boy, but I could tell, at a glance, if there were more people at the table than pieces of pie; and I remember the feeling of panic when I first realized that someone was not getting a piece of dessert. It took a while for me to realize that every time we had more people than pie Mom always said she did not want any dessert. The first few times I though Wow! That was close! But after it happened time and time again I realized Mom gave up her portion of dessert so someone else would not miss out. That was how Mom lived her life! Always thinking of others before herself. Mom gave tirelessly to others through various organizations: Jobs Daughters, Christian Women's Club, Masonic Lodge, Eastern Star, Golden Valley Ladies Club and the Horticultural Society. She never refused any request and she gave even when her body was telling her not to. Ken says: I remember Mom in the garden of life. Planting seeds of friendship with everyone she met; watering that bond with love and care in times spent together. In clubs and organizations doing her best and encouraging the best out of everyone. Mom took a genuine interest in the accomplishments of others, postcards from friends, hand drawn pictures from Grandchildren, newspaper clippings, and ornate magnets plastered the fridge door and eventually were carefully stored in one of the hundreds of boxes labeled Mom's treasured possessions. As a family we have enjoyed the harvest of friendships grown through years and decades of neighbors, relatives and friends. Even in this past harvest season of Mom's life, we see many moments where God's love, peace and grace were made visible by her actions; handling each day with dignity, strength and grace that lifted us all. Mom and Dad always enjoyed visitors and today our family would like to say thanks to all those who took the time to drop in and say hello. The gift of your very presence lasted long after you left the room. We also do not want to miss this opportunity to say a special thank you to the amazing nurses and care givers at the Mesericordia and Lloydminster hospitals as well as the entire staff of the Dr. Cooke Extended Care Centre. To each of you gathered here today, look back on memories made with Mom, Dad and our entire family and in sharing those special moments with others you lift us all up as a mother lifts a child to gaze in awe and wonder into a new Robin's nest. Doug says: Dad, we want to thank you for showing us, through your actions, unconditional love. You were always there for Mom. You showed us what it means to love someone through sickness and health, in good times and bad. You were at Mom's side even at times when your health was failing. Dad, we're so proud of you and very appreciative of the special bond you and Mom shared. Today, Mom has set another plate at the table. Today, she invites you to join us for lunch upstairs immediately following this celebration. This is my Mom's special invitation, when we talked about celebrating her life, she insisted that everyone be given the opportunity to get together, over coffee, tea, juice, snacks and enjoy each other's company before the burial ceremony. Please join us, share some stories, give some hugs, enjoy food and fellowship...carry on the tradition, Mom would be truly honoured. Donations in memory of Thelma may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, Dr. Cooke Extended Care Centre or to a charity of the donors choice.