ALFREDA MARIE THERESA ALPHONSINE HALCROW (COOK)

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ALFREDA MARIE THERESA ALPHONSINE HALCROW (nee COOK) September 2, 1915 - December 30, 2005 Little Granny as many knew her, passed on Friday, December 30, 2005 at 2:18 a.m. with her grandchildren by her side. She was a kind, caring, loving, compassionate, humourous, strong-willed woman. Little Granny was born to Annie and Thomas Cook of Cross Lake, MB. She was baptized Catholic, February 13, 1918. She attended St. Joseph Residential School in Cross Lake, until the school was destroyed by fire in 1930. Alfreda was united in marriage to Wilkie Halcrow in 1932; he passed away in 1973. They had three children, two children survived childbirth. Joseph was their third child. Annie was their first child, she died from a whopping cough epidemic at a very young age. Their son William Sandy Halcrow was their only surviving child; he was their pride and joy. Sadly their son passed away July 1971, at the young age of 36. Little Granny had 11 grandchildren and daughter-in-law Christina, surviving at the time of her son's passing. Today she has 44 Great-grandchildren and 55 Great-Great-grandchildren. During her life Little Granny was a nursing assistant, she worked extensively in the Northern and Southern communities, she was also a midwife. To be able to work off the reserve she had to give up her treaty status and become disenfranchised. She was one of the women who testified to regain her treaty status through legislation with the Federal Government (Bill C-31). Little Granny resided in Winnipeg, spent many hours with her grandchildren. She also enjoyed, knitting, sewing, and doing beadwork. She made many sweaters, jackets, slippers, and other items for friends and family members. She was a bit of a celebrity, making a few guest appearances on the TV program Woodsmoke and Sweetgrass. Since January 8, 1996 Little Granny resided at the Rod McGillivary Memorial Care Home, on Opasqwayak Cree Nation. Many thanks to the staff for the care provided to Little Granny . Surviving family members: sisters, Sarah Richards, Isabel Meiers, Veronica McLeod, Nora-Jean Johannson; brothers, Paul Cook, Edward Cook, Robert Cook, and William Cook; daughter-in-law, Christina Crate (nee Halcrow); grandchildren, Paul McKay, Marlene (Bob) Ross, Karen McGillivary, Cileen Lathlin, Alfreda Mayer (Frank Turner), Elaine Fontaine (Dereck Cook), Sandra Constant (Daniel Constant), Patricia Merasty, Louise Halcrow (Mike Ross), Isabel Halcrow (Bill Ducharme), Florence Halcrow; great-grandchildren, Sandra, Riley, Reggie, Chelsea, Precious/ Arnold, Lorna, Elton, Tracy/William, Rodney, Cameron/ William, Ricky, Randy, Ashley/ Anthony, Alvina Christa/ Cassandra, Wes, Darrell, Dellarose, Chantelle, Jordan/ Riley, Horace, James, Jay-Bea/ William, Robert, Brittany, Brian/ Savannah, Jerry, Denise, Nicholas/ Eli, Broden/ Kyle, Felicia, Denny, Karen, Logan; fifty-five great-great grandchildren; cousin, Florence Beardy (Paul Kryminski), and numerous other relatives. Predeceased by: her parents, Annie (McKay) and Thomas Cook; husband, Wilkie Halcrow, daughter, Angela; son, William Sandy; grandson, William Robert Brian; great-grandchildren, Paul Jr., Angela, Brian-Matthew; great-great grandchildren, Raven, Morning Star; grandson-in-law, Andrew Lathlin; brothers, Sandy, William (Willie); sister, Margaret Cook; and numerous other relatives. Active Pallbearers: Paul McKay, William J. McGillivary, William C.W. Halcrow, Darrell A. Fontaine, Horace R. Personius, William P. Merasty. Honorary Pallbearers: Arnold Ross, Rodney McGillivary, Anthony Niiganii, Chris Halcrow, Jerry Cowley, Eli Halcrow, Kyle Halcrow-Lathlin. A Christian Wake Service will be held Thursday, January 5, 2006, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Desjardins Funeral Chapel, 357 Des Meurons St. with prayers at 7:00 p.m. led by Rev. Martin Bradbury. The funeral service will be held Friday, January 6, 1:00 p.m. at the Holy Family Catholic Church, 778 Archibald St., Winnipeg, with Rev. Martin Bradbury presiding. Interment will take place in St. Boniface Cemetery, Winnipeg. Hemauer Funeral Home, The Pas, 623-3261, and Desjardins Funeral Chapel, Winnipeg, 233-4949, are in care of arrangements

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 04, 2006