Elvine (nee Callaghan) Sterling
March 12, 1925 – January 13, 2015
It is with heavy hears that we announce the passing of Elvine “Pat” Sterling on January 13, 2015 in Prince Albert, SK at the age of 89 years. Mom was born in Prince Albert to John and Nellie Callaghan and raised along with her siblings at the Nesbit North of town. It is now known as the Nesbit Fire Complex. She attended St. Paul’s School up to grade 8 at the present site of St. Mary’s High School. Prior to turning 18 years old, Mom worked at Eaton’s Department Store. Upon turning 18 she enlisted in the Canadian Women’s Army Core (WAC) and served as a cook in the Officer’s Mess at Currie Barracks in Calgary and Prince of Wales Armoury in Edmonton. In 1945 she was married to Burt Sterling. They returned to Prince Albert in 1946. Mom maintained the household and tried to manage what eventually turned out to be 5 children along with many of the neighbourhood kids who would hang out at our place so they could get some of mom’s homemade bread with jam or maybe even steal some of Mom’s cinnamon buns while they were set out to cool, being fresh from the oven. Mom even treated the neighbour kids the same as her own. If you got into trouble at our house, you were treated the same as us. In those days it seemed that was the way of it no matter which neighbour’s home we were at. In 1962, the family moved from Oxford Street in Hazeldale out to Green Acres North of town. She resided there to her passing. Mom is survived by her children: Barb (Bob) Nye of Prince Albert, SK, Ron (Linda) of Prince Albert, SK, Pat (Dale) Giles of Calgary, AB, Bob (Doris) of Prince Albert, SK, and Martin (Lori) of Green Acres, SK; her one sister: Joan (Doug) Olsson of Salmon Arm, BC and a special nephew: Al (Flora) Sterling of Vernon, BC; her 13 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Mom was predeceased by her husband of 48 years: Burt Sterling in 1993; her sisters: Milly (Cliff) Corrigal, Evelyn (Fred) Russell, Katherine (George) Slater, Gloria (Hugh) Steward, Lucille Callaghan, Molly (Howard) Anderson, and Jan (Jerry) Ritza; her brothers: Wilfred Featherling, Tom (Pauline) Callaghan, Jack (Mary) Callaghan, Edwin (Christa) Callaghan, and Frankie Callaghan; and one special nephew: Dale (Georgette) Stewart. At one time Mom had been a member of the Rebecca Lodge, Red Wing Community Club, Legion and a cub leader for the 1st Red Wing Cub Pack. Mom worked hard helping to build the house in Green Acres. She carried cement blocks for the basement, mixed cement in a trough using a garden hoe and any other job that she could. Mom was well known for her big garden in years gone by, her 525 spoon collection, her candle collection, her Angel collection, thimbles, bells and other assortd items. Mom enjoyed baking bread, gardening and was very fond of her Masonic wall where she had pictures of those of us in the lodge, along with a nephew and one friend of the family and one son-in-law. Mom will be forever missed and will leave a large hole in our hearts. In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation to St. Mary’s Anglican Church, The Diocese of Saskatchewan, 1308 5th Avenue East, Prince Albert, SK S6V 2H7. We would like to give a special thanks to all of the nurses who worked in the Renal Dialysis Unit at the Victoria Hospital as well as all the nurses and Doctors of the sixth floor of the Victoria Hospital who aided in her care lately. A special thank you to Dr. Smith-Windsor who was her primary care giver for many years. A very special thank you goes out to Dean Ken Davis from St. Alban’s Cathedral for his unique friendship with Mom and the rest of the family. A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, January 17, 2015 – 1:00 pm, St. Alban’s Cathedral, 1410 Bishop McLean Cres, Prince Albert, SK. Interment to be held on June 5, 2015 at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Arrangements in care of MacKenzie Chapel & Crematorium. Brian and Bev Stobbs, Funeral Directors. 306.763.8488 www.MacKenzieChapel.ca