EDITH KATHRINE BROWN

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EDITH KATHRINE BROWN
January 4, 1924 - May 26, 2019

Edith was born in Virden, Manitoba on a frosty night. Her father, Hughie Heron Gardner drove her mother, Carrie Joan Hockin to hospital in a sleigh. He hurried the horses more than he normally would because he said he could replace the horses but not Joan. Babe Edith and mother Joan came home 10 days later. Her older sister, Helen Reynolds, stayed with Grandma Gardner (Frances Routley) and grandfather, John Gardner. When brother Verne Gardner was born, his sisters stayed in Oak Lake with Grandma Hockin and Grandfather Robert Hitching Hockin because mother and babe stayed in hospital for five weeks.
Edith went to school at Breadalbane to grade 9, in a one room school, attending from fall to Christmas. After Christmas she was home schooled because the roads were not passable. She took grade 10 at this school by correspondence. In grade 11, she went to school in Lenore, boarding with the McClennan family and returning home by buggy or sleigh to the farm.
Edith lived in Oak Lake for grade 12. On some weekends she went home, riding a horse from Oak Lake to the farm, a 15-mile trip that took an hour. Graduating at 16, she taught school for a year at Hesselwood before training as a nurse at Children's Hospital in Winnipeg. Instead of becoming a flight attendant, she chose work as an RN in hospitals: Brandon, Swan River and Winnipeg. She was active in the nurses' union to improve working conditions.
Wintering on the west coast became a favourite vacation while Edith worked. Once retired, Don stayed on the farm while she was away. In 2006, Edith and son Don arrived in Vancouver. Bridge and more bridge! Exercise class, book club, church and helping Liberals get elected were some of her activities. Winter holidays in Barbados were a special delight. Daughter Colleen and Edith packed up food and clothes in Toronto and went south to enjoy the sun, water and read books.
Edith is grateful for the love and support of family and friends. Her children, Doreen Gardner Brown, Colleen Watson and Don Brown will celebrate her fine life at Central Presbyterian Church in Vancouver.
Remember Edith by donating to your favourite charity, St. John Hospice at UBC, 6389 Stadium Road, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 or to Central Presbyterian Church, 1155 Thurlow Street, Vancouver, BC V6E 1X2.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 08, 2019