JUDITH ELVERA CORALINA WATSON (TEGELBERG)

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JUDITH ELVERA CORALINA WATSON (nee TEGELBERG) January 15, 1919 - June 12, 2005 What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of a buffalo in the winter time. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset. Chief Crowfoot, Blackfoot. It is with profound sorrow we announce that our beautiful mother Judith died peacefully at Concordia Hospital, with her children by her side. Our mother left us, planning to join our dad, for the next part of her journey. Judith was born and educated in Hartfield, MB. At 16, she went to work in Eriksdale as a nanny and homemaker. Later she worked as a nurse at the Eriksdale Hospital. There she met our father, Edmund Fleming Watson, as he returned from active duty from the Second World War. Theirs' was a romantic love affair that began on June 2, 1948 and was postponed with his death, July 16, 1996. Together they raised a family and farmed dairy, Holstein, Angus and Simmental cattle in Scotch Bay. Mom was an active member of the Lundar Royal Purple, Scotch Bay Ladies Aid, Scotch Bay Anglican Church, Eriksdale Legion Auxiliary, Sanford Auxiliary, Sperling Golden Corners, Sanford United Church and Toastmasters International. She was a proud and an amazing homemaker, with accomplishments ranging from sewing, needlepoint, crafting, cake-decorating, gardening, reading and writing. Many charities, such as Winnipeg Harvest, Bosnian orphans, Ukraine Orphanages, children in foster care, RCMP, Women's Shelters and every newborn infant in the community where she resided were the recipients of her hand-made quilts, toys and winter clothing. Her quilts travelled all over the world as gifts. Each family member and friends received a homemade gift every Christmas. She created wedding cakes, published short stories, performed at public speaking festivals, made university presentations on friendship and created enriched experiences for all who knew her. Her personal travel journals and her private memoirs are rich with her viewpoint on the world. Her expertise turned up in cakes for weddings, dresses, boxer shorts, sweaters, mitts, neck warmers, toques, tunnbrod and Johnny cake. Her panache included her predilection for a stylish hat on each occasion. Her private passions were old-time dancing and cards. Every one of us has been escorted through the steps of the polka, waltz or Swedish Humbo with Mom's patient instructions. Cards were two nights a week with friends, once a week at Golden Corners and twice a month at the Sanford Legion. She loved her years at Golden Corners, participating in a caring community, connecting with friends and sewing the beautiful bears. Judy captured people's imagination with her warmth, laughter, ready wit and incredible sense of humour. Her engaging personality and generous giving spirit allowed her to touch the lives of so many. She made friends easily and kept them forever. Her final days were spent reviewing the joy she had received from each of you. Judith was most proud of her five daughters. Uncle Jack Ross aptly dubbed them the Improved Watsons , celebrating Judy's Swedish origins. Judy encouraged and supported each of her daughters to develop their education gene and to devote time to working with people who need our help. Left to celebrate a significant life and to mourn an extraordinary and lovely woman is her five daughters: Vivien (Mel) Kirkwood; Elvera (Marcial Hinojosa) Watson; Lorraine (Grant) Baldwin; Sylvia (Collin) Anderson; Ingrid Inglis. Also missing their special grandmother are children from the Kirkwood family: Demsey, Ellory and McKowan; from the Hinojosa Watson family: sons, Siobhan and Diego, stepsons, Felipe and Carlos; from the Baldwin family: children, Levi, Logan, Devon, Jasmine, Samantha, Trace, Elijah; from the Anderson family: daughter Debbie (Richard Mantik), children, Hanna, McKelvey, Samantha; daughter Candace (Gerald Hastings) Anderson, son Joshua; son William (Tabetha) Anderson, daughter Katarina; from the Inglis family: daughter Rachelle Verzyl and son Thomas; son David (Grace), sons, Zachary, Alex, Noah; son Luke (Myranda), sons, Skylar and Shawn; son Ian (Kendra), daughters, Shayne, Tessa and Nevaeh; son Wayne (Lisa) Anderson, children, Mariah, Michaela and Swain; son Mathew (Maryann), sons, Blaine and Nathan; daughter Jessie Inglis (Jay Miller); son Quinn (Candace) Inglis, children, Shanoah, Luke, Quinton, Jordyn; son Kaleb (Kelsey), son Pierce, daughter Barbie (Derek) Carriere and son Dominic; daughters, Patty, Jackie, Cassandra, and Shelley. As well she is survived by her brother Milton, her sister-in-law Beatrice, her husband's family and many nieces and nephews. Judith was predeceased by her husband Edmund; her parents, Sophie and Henning Tegelberg; sister Jenny (Jack) Borradaile; brother Ferdinand Tegelberg; son-in-law Thomas Inglis; great-grandsons, Taylor Anderson-Fort and Brandon Anderson. She was also predeceased by her in-laws, Esther and William Watson; and sister and brother-in-laws, Laurie Tegelberg, Diana (Jack) Slater, McKelvey Watson, Allison (Gordon) Ellis, Roland Band, Steini Jonsson, John Deverill and nieces and nephews. At her request, Judith has been cremated. A celebration of her life will be held in the Eriksdale Recreation Centre on Friday, June 17 at 2:30 p.m., her nephew Pastor Bill Watson officiating. A memorial service will be held in the Sanford Legion on Saturday, June 18 at 2:00 p.m., Pastor Ken Warkentin officiating. Interment will be in Scotch Bay Cemetery in a private service. Honorary Pallbearers include her special friends, Dora, Beatrice, Sophie, Bev, Georgie, Florence, Thelma, Margaret, Phyllis, Alice, Gail, Linda, Jane and Helen. Thank you to Dr. Caners, Dr. Crow, Rebecca, Betty and all the special staff at NI, Concordia. A special thank you to Phyllis and Cameron Penny. She loved you. Letters of condolences can be sent to living@mts.net or to PO Box 355, Sanford, MB R0G 2J0. You are everything You're the tune of a song And the step of a dance; The tang of a lemon And the love in romance: You're the beat of my heart And the step in my walk; The curve of my smile And the words of my talk. You're the hop in a skip And the wave in the sea; You're the shine of the sun And the love inside me. Arrangements by Arnason Funeral Homes Ltd. Ashern - Lundar 1-204-768-2072

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 15, 2005