Age 89, Truro, N.S., passed away peacefully and with joy in her heart on January 22, 2019. A gentle, quiet and determined woman, Edna will always be remembered as the loving wife of Dr. Peter Handforth, caring mother, proud grandmother and great-grandmother, skilled artist, and loyal friend. Born March 1, 1929, in West Kensington, London, England, Edna was the first of the two children of Edward and Louisa Sandford. Edna had a happy childhood and enjoyed seaside holidays surrounded by relatives. In school, she enjoyed learning piano and developed a life-long love of classical music. In 1945, Edna started working as a lab assistant in St Thomas’ Hospital, London. In January 1947, a medical student, Peter Handforth, walked into the room where she worked and asked for a date. They married November 18, 1950, after Peter passed his medical exams. Edna became a registered nurse in 1951. In September 1952, son Jon was born and in December 1953, son Tim was born. Earlier in 1953, Peter was called for National Service and joined the Royal Air Force. In February 1954, he was stationed to Changi Village, Singapore. Edna and the boys followed by troopship in April. Edna enjoyed life in Singapore and made life-long friends. She became an accomplished seamstress and then learned to drive in the daily torrential rains, lightning and thunder. Daughter, Jane, was born in February 1956. Later that year Edna, Peter and their three young children immigrated to Halifax before moving to Waverley. In 1963, the family moved to Truro where Peter headed the pathology lab at the Colchester Regional Hospital. Edna and Peter completely restored a traditional Victorian home. They enjoyed long walks in nearby Victoria Park and painted local scenery together. True to form, Edna had many friends in the Truro Art Society and she volunteered tirelessly to manage shows and exhibitions. She studied pottery at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and was a well-known potter. She always enjoyed baking and cooking for her family, especially for her three grandchildren. She was heartbroken when Peter, her best friend and partner in life, passed in 2012. Edna died, as she lived, with patience, determination, courage and dignity. She is survived by her children Jon (Holly Clark), Calgary; Tim (Clare MacEachern), Antigonish; Jane, Victoria; grandchildren Mary-Kate Handforth, Black Diamond, Alberta; Christopher Handforth (Danisha Punja), Calgary; MacKenzie Handforth-Noel (Rodney Noel), Calgary; and her just-born great-grandson André Jonathan Noel. She is also survived by nieces, Angela, London, England and Amanda, New Zealand; sister-in-law, Marion Hicks, Oxford, England, and nephews, Martin, Kingston, Ontario; Adrian, Los Angeles; and Nicholas, Oxford, England. Her parents; brother, Victor; sister-in-law, Joan and brothers-in-law, James and Anthony predeceased her. Edna’s family invites friends to join them to share memories and celebrate a life well lived on Thursday, February 28, 2019, the eve of Edna’s 90th birthday, from 2 -4 pm in Colchester Community Funeral Home, 512 Willow St., Truro. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Colchester East Hants Health Centre Foundation. The family wishes to express heartfelt thanks to Edna’s neighbor’s Gloria, Marlene, Robert and Francis for years of warm friendship and help. Thanks also to Edna’s caregivers, in particular Dr. Nicholson and staff at the Palliative Care unit. On-line condolences may be sent to the family at: www.ColchesterCommunity.com
Enjoy life … each day is a gift!