OLIVE MARTIN

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OLIVE MARTIN (nee McINTYRE) Olive Martin was born Olive McIntyre in Oakville, MB April 16, 1915. There wasn't much of her. At roughly two pounds she was literally discarded in the corner while her mother's health was tended. A nurse decided she might be worth a little more effort. And she was. 91 years later she has left. Olive passed away at Portage and District General Hospital the morning of July 9, 2006. Her early years were in Oakville, MB. Olive worked a spell at the Commerce bank in Portage, balancing to the penny. After the war, Olive became reacquainted with Tom Martin. And then there she was: married to the UGG grain elevator man in Love, SK, living in a tiny unfinished frame house and caring for a hulk of a baby boy. It was new and hard for the admittedly doted-on and heavily-controlled daughter of a significant Oakville family. By her own account she barely knew how to boil water . But Tom liked banana cream pie and she was determined to produce one. It took the day and at the crucial moment it found its way into a sad pile on the floor. Tom ate it, tears and sand and all. Olive often described these as the happiest years of her life. Olive's domestic skills improved dramatically. Despite her son's occasional stupid insistence on Wonder Bread , she hand made the best damn bread anywhere. She is the widely recognized queen of the tea biscuit; and her cherry almond cakes are famous wherever Gord received them as CARE packages. Gord swears that sharing her bag lunches at university were the only way he met girls. One of them even stuck around after the lunches were gone. Gord married Lee Fraser, effectively adding a daughter - who also brought along a large extended family. Despite Gord and Lee being in Toronto and neglecting to provide grandchildren, the Frasers helped fill the void with an endless supply of good kids , friends and babies. From Love, SK the family spent many years in Winnipeg. On Tom's retirement there was a return to roots with the purchase of The Acre near High Bluff corner. Happy years and new friends followed. Especially neighbours. Despite large age gaps, Olive's lifelong discomfort in her own skin, and Tom's serial-story-telling and odd sense of humour, neighbours such as the Jeffries families and the Holods became permanent friends. Olive resisted leaving the Acre. But almost before the boxes were unpacked at one of the first Dalton Grove units, Olive realized this was the best possible place they could have moved to. More good years and more good friends, old and new. At age 90 there was a party. Once it became clear that Gord and Lee would not let her hide out in Toronto, and were insisting on at least a tea at Dalton, she took control. Extra invitations went out; her own china was used; and there was cake and ice cream for all comers. The next day the party went on the road - cake and ice cream to all the Daltonites at the hospital. A few days later Olive was in hospital herself. We thought she was a goner, and all she could say for a few days was an extremely weak-voiced: It was a great party . It was. And she survived that illness. Thanks to everyone. Many many people supported and stuck by Olive right to the end. Gord is her only direct blood relation. His guilt over being in Toronto was mightily assuaged by the wonderful friends at Dalton and throughout the Portage area. And Brandon, and Winnipeg and Cook's Creek and beyond. It would be impossible to overstate the thanks that Olive and Gord and Lee owe to Jane Holod. Starting as just a good neighbour, Jane practically became a daughter to Olive, and most definitely earned her Wings with her friendship and help to Olive and Tom. Thank you. There will be no service. You are welcome to come by Dalton Grove (851 Saskatchewan Ave. E., Portage la Prairie), Wednesday, July 12 anytime from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. to share a cup of tea or coffee and some memories. A few dollars to the charity of your choice would be a lovely gesture. If you wish more guidance, we would suggest the Portage Hospital Foundation (204-239-2211). The CARE that Olive and Tom both received there was outstanding. Arrangements are by Ronald Moffit Memorial Services, Portage la Prairie (856-3487).

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 11, 2006