ELIZABETH JEAN JAMES

Condolences & Memories (1 entries)

• THANK-YOU EVERYONE for attending a lovely send-off for Betty, also reminiscing about Harry, and the ways their lives touched ours. We (maybe) learned a lot looking at their old photographs and speaking of old times together, as well as catching up on your lives. My mother-in-law was a remarkable woman. Many people may be grateful for Betty James' great generosity and practical wisdom, as well as her love of helping and comforting others. For me and my family she had many times stepped up with financial assistance, whether in emergencies, or just to help out with the extra costs of bringing up a family, tuition fees, etc. She spent endless hours washing and preserving summer produce, or baking massive loads of cookies and packing them up in good-sized boxes to give away to everyone. Once when I was laid up after an operation, she came over every day and catered to my every whim. I craved cantaloupe, so she shopped around and somehow located ripe ones, then cut up a big supply for me. When we were caretaking an apartment block, she would come over every week to help care for our small children and tidy up the apartment, so Ross could spend the day cleaning and maintaining the building. She actively tried to think of ways to help out, i.e. besides the garden produce and goodies mentioned above, she prepared meals such as pizza and froze them for us. She had a heart for the poor and really felt sorrow for those in need, and did her best to do her part in knitting for them and giving used goods and money to charities. I was amazed at her uncanny ability in figuring things out. One time we gave her our ailing, sad budgie bird to look after. We couldn't believe it was the same bird. She taught it to come and it was so joyful when she gave it a piece of broccoli, that it would do what we called a "broccoli dance" on top of the birdcage. I was also amazed at her endless energy looking after her own home and keeping it ship-shape, inside and out, well into her old age. Betty in some ways had her own own unique style. Betty was the most avid chocoholic I ever met. She would buy up all the half-priced chocolate bunnies, or santa clauses, etc., after each holiday was over, and she would break them up into a covered crystal candy dish and have chocolate supplies for months. She was in the habit of always saying the same comments, and for chocolate it was "I just get a craving sometimes." (The following is the text from the handouts at her funeral). We remember Betty James with true love and affection as we remember her kind, generous heart, her determined and efficient ways of getting things done, her strength and independence, as well as her practical way of thinking, which always included respect and consideration for the other person’s opinions and wishes, no matter what their age or background. She always had a soft heart for the poor, and an overwhelming love of children, especially babies. She could not pass a baby or toddler anywhere without leaning over to chat for a while. By viewing old photographs, valentines and postcards, we can see that Betty and her husband Harry had a truly romantic courtship, and they remained best friends and faithful partners throughout their marriage. Betty always gave of herself and shared whatever she had to benefit her family and others. Her knitting needles flew and whipped up knitted sweaters, hats, mittens, scarves, and baby layettes, as well as cuddle dolls and finger puppets for the children’s ward at hospitals. She had a collection of thank you letters from the Christmas Cheer Board and hospitals. She gathered used items to give to charity and gave out of her pocketbook regularly. For many years, she sewed the beads on Shriner’s fezzes (hats) as a part-time job. Where she found the time, we don’t know! Betty and her husband Harry shared their home. They sponsored a family from Trinidad to enable them to immigrate to Canada. The children have grown up and they and their grandchildren are talented and outstanding Canadian citizens. One of these children told me that she and her family will talk together happily for a long time when remembering Harry and Betty James. The following are portions from a biography done some years ago by her grandchild in Middle School. BIOGRAPHY: ELIZABETH JAMES by Harrison James My grandmother was born in Winnipeg, MB at the Misercordia Hospital. She is a Canadian. She lives in Winnipeg. As a child, she lived in a farm near Domain, MB. Some goals that she achieved were becoming a housewife/mother. She worked for the Hudson Bay and at McDonald Aircraft. The only service she served was back around the time of WWII when she was working on aircraft. Her friend introduced Harry James to her at the roller rink. She went to school at St. Mary’s School/Academy. She went up to Grade 11. - Posted by: Kathleen James (Daughter-in-law) on: Nov 30, 2014