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Elisabeth Grimmer

Elisabeth Grimmer

Born In: Alida, Saskatchewan, Canada
Born: July 2nd, 1933

Passed in: Berwick, Canada
Passed on: March 17th, 2017

GRIMMER (Johnsen, McMahon), Elisabeth “Betty”, Our Mom died peacefully at home in Grand View Manor, Berwick, the 17th of March, 2017, at the age of 83. Mom was born prematurely July 2, 1933 in a sod hut in the dusty prairies of Alida, Saskatchewan, to Anton Johnsen Osterlund and Elisabeth (Christoffersen, later Pedersen), recent immigrants from Denmark. The eighth in a family of nine siblings, she was tough and optimistic from the beginning. Shortly after her birth the family relocated to the Ottawa Valley to take up farming. After high school she became a hairdresser, a skill that later served our family well for many years. On a blind date Betty met a dashing young officer in the RCAF, Gordon McMahon, and in 1952 they married in the chapel on Rockcliffe Air Force Base. Over the next 10 years Betty and Gordon were posted to Red Deer, Alberta; Feltwell, England; Trenton, Ont.; Moose Jaw, Sask.; Summerside, PEI; and Greenwood, N.S. A child was born in each place except PEI. More military moves followed, including Halifax and Ottawa. Mom participated actively in the social life of each community she lived in and was unconditional in her support for Dad and us five kids. When Dad “retired” in 1976 they began a commercial farm in South Waterville, NS, where they grew apples, berries and vegetables. Mom became a bee-keeper, gradually working up to 75 hives and extracting honey for others. She was hugely admired and loved by her farm crews. They would show up happily before light to get the raspberries picked and off to market or stay late into the night bagging parsnips. Mom was always optimistic, made a good time out of hard work and never seemed to stop. Even when Gordon died in an accident on the farm in 1986, Mom rallied and actually expanded the farm, building a house and a honey house where she processed her Solar Vale Farm brand of honey. In 1995 Mom married Fred Grimmer and began a well- deserved retirement. They travelled extensively to Europe, the Caribbean, Florida and across Canada for the next 20 years, spending summers on the Fundy shore in Margaretsville and enjoying their children and grandchildren. Mom deeply loved and was in constant support of her grandkids. In 2013 Mom moved to Grand View Manor in Berwick where her grace, dignity and her lovely smile quickly endeared her to her caregivers who will long remember her. Mom was predeceased by her parents, her step- father, Harry Pedersen, her siblings, Gudrun (Molly), Peter, Aksel, Ingrid, Paul, Stella and Shirley, as well as her husbands, Gordon and Fred (2015). She is survived by her sister, Ruth, brother, Thomas and her children, Michael (Ruth Winterhalt), Rick (Cathy Arsenault), Debbie Greenwood (Tim), James (Attracta Rowlands), Steven (Heather) and special daughter, Moni Wildemann. Her Grandchildren are Amelia, Renee, Eirin, Erika, Kerry and Tegan. She met her new great-grandchild, Cadence Elizabeth Stewart and there is another on the way. Our Mom was also a “second mother” to many of our friends. They all know who they are. She could do anything- cane a chair, drive a tractor, calm bees, throw a football, cook a meal for 20, prune or pick acres of orchard, entertain a bunch of kids or make a quilt. We will lovingly think of her every day. We would like to especially acknowledge the four years of loving care provided by the staff at Grand View. They are truly special people. Mom has been cremated and we will have a family service at a later date. Donations in memory of Betty can be made to Grand View Manor. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Middleton Funeral Home, 398 Main Street, toll free 1-855-825-3448. Online guest book may be signed visiting: www.middletonfuneralhome.com

 

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