MRS. LYDIA SANDERSON (BEARDY)

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MRS. LYDIA SANDERSON (nee BEARDY) November 30, 1932 - November 11, 2002 On Monday, November 11, 2002, at 10:54 a.m., angels carried Lydia to her heavenly home. She leaves her husband of 48 years Ralph Lawrence "Laurie"; her children, Wesley (Florence) of Frenchmans Head, ON, Kathleen Gauthier of Red Lake, ON, Isobel Adams of Aldergrove, BC, Glen of Vancouver, BC, Vivian Dale (Shannon) Jack of Winnipeg, MB; also her adopted daughters, Geraldine (Chief John) McKay of Keewaywin, ON and Lorette (Chief Garnet) Woodhouse of Fairford, MB. She also leaves five brothers, Shady (Mary Ann) of Bearskin Lake, ON, Allan (Flora) of Muskrat Dam, ON, Louie (Mary Jane) of Thunder Bay, ON, Levi and Thomas (Edith Fiddler) of Bearskin Lake; as well as a sister Abigail Simard of Toronto, ON. Other relatives that she called her brothers are Morley Beardy of Sioux Lookout, ON, Tommy Beardy of Thunder Bay and Chief Gordon Beardy of Muskrat Dam. Nana had 17 grandchildren, Sylvia (Greg) Davis of Frenchmans Head, Michelle (Keenon) Henry and Laurie Sanderson of Winnipeg, David Sanderson of Frenchmans Head, Tina (Tyler) Goulding of New Jersey, U.S.A., Daniel Gauthier of Kirkland Lake, ON, Shannon, Janice and Leah Sanderson of British Columbia, Gloria, Janine and Cheyanne Jack of Winnipeg, Susan (Calvin) Necan of Winnipeg, Angela (Glen) Keno of Garden Hill, MB, Ian (Liz) and John McKay of Keewaywin and April McKay of Winnipeg; seven great-grandchildren, Michael and Kerry Davis, Joanna and Jennifer Henry, Colin and Candice Goulding and Trystan Sanderson. She also leaves her sisters-in-law, Dora, Elaine and Geraldine; brothers-in-law, Jerdin Moskoteywenene and Gary Sanderson; her special aunt Sylvia McKay; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Louis Simard and Claude Gauthier are also remembered at this time. She was predeceased by her children, Sylvia, Gloria and another by miscarriage; her parents, Geordie and Kathleen Beardy; her brothers, Donald and Zebulin; also her sister Rubina Moskoteywenene. Lydia was also predeceased by her grandsons, Denim Sanderson and Israel Jack; her niece Lydia Beardy; and her nephew Bradley Simard. Lydia was born in Big Trout Lake, ON and her family moved to Bearskin Lake where she lived until she left with Laurie on the tractor train. She was an excellent homemaker, a talented seamstress and she made the best leather handicrafts with the most beautiful beadwork. She was selected along with Bertha Mamageesic and her late aunt Nora Beardy, to participate in the "In Praise of Hands" exhibitions in Toronto in the early 1970s. Lydia was also a mighty prayer warrior and she loved to sing praises to her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Some of her favourite hymns included "Sitting at the Feet of Jesus", "Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone". She would usually get blessed while singing songs like "Ill Fly Away" and "When the Roll is called up Yonder", and end up waving the songbook around while Dad was trying to finish the song while playing his accordion. She enjoyed travelling and testifying of how God saved her, healed her children and restored her marriage. She worshipped at the Red Lake Full Gospel Revival Centre for many years and after moving to Winnipeg in 1986 she loved to fellowship at Calvary Temple, the Berean Church of God, as well as The House of Prayer. In 1996 Lydia was diagnosed with Alzheimers. Home Care staff took care of Mom until she suffered a fall in January 2001. She was transported to the Grace Hospital by compassionate members of the City of Winnipeg ambulance service. Mom stayed briefly at Central Park Lodge on Poseidon and also at the Middlechurch Home of Winnipeg, and finally, at the Holy Family Nursing Home. The family would like to thank all of the dedicated caregivers who took excellent care of Mom. Thank you Dad for being there for Mom right to the end. It means a lot to us, we love you. Viewing will take place at the Knysh Funeral Chapel, 1020 Main St., Winnipeg, on Thursday, November 14 from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. Funeral service will take place at Calvary Temple, 400 Hargrave St., Winnipeg, on Friday, November 15 at 10:00 a.m. with the Rev. M. E. Farquharson officiating. Interment to follow at Brookside Cemetery. Lydia was a faithful wife, a loving mother, a precious nana, and our lives are all the more richer because of her. For all the friends and relatives who called or came from near and far, we as a family thank you for your love and support, it is greatly appreciated. HE ONLY TAKES THE BEST God saw she was getting tired and a cure was not to be So He put His arms around her and whispered "Come with Me" With tear-filled eyes we watched her suffer and fade away Although we loved her deeply we could not make her stay A golden heart stopped beating, hard-working hands put to rest God broke our hearts to prove to us He only takes the best. Author unknown I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. II Timothy 4:7 KNYSH FUNERAL CHAPEL 1020 MAIN STREET 582-0973

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 14, 2002