Leola WILLIAMS

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WILLIAMS: Leola Luella (nee Studer). It is with very sad and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandma, great-grandma, sister and friend, Leola Luella Williams in her 88th year. Leola passed away peacefully cradled in the loving arms of her youngest daughter, Deb, on Saturday, May 1, 2010, at the West-Man Nursing Home in Virden, Manitoba. Leola was the loving wife of the late Ivan Alfred Williams and the most wonderful mother to her five children, Keith, Joyce, Valerie, Debra and Terry. Leola was born at home on the farm in the Klintonel District near Eastend, Saskatchewan on March 25, 1923 to parents Fred and Barbara Studer. She was the fourth of eight children in the family of five girls and three boys. She went to school in the Klintonel District until 1937 when her family moved to the Virden area. After the move, Leola never returned to school as she stayed home to work on the farm and help out with her younger siblings. She also had a few other jobs in the area. On April 12, 1944, Leola married the love of her life, Ivan Williams, who lived in the Springvale District. They were married in St. Paul’s United Church in Virden. The newlyweds honeymooned in Winnipeg and when they returned to the Springvale District they rented the E 1/2 11w-10-28 and later bought it and then it became home to their family – Keith, born in 1944; Joyce, in 1946; Valerie in 1956; Debra in 1960; and Terry in 1962. Besides raising her children and being a loving devoted stay-at-home mom, Leola worked hard like many farm wives and she was never afraid of hard work. She gardened to preserve the food and milked cows and sold the cream. She also raised chickens as well as butchering and cleaning them. Leola grew raspberries to pick and sell for grocery money. In the 1950s when oil was found in the area Leola would cook meals for the oil workers and when Ivan’s love for flying became “Williams Spraying Service” she cooked many meals for many years for all the hired hands. Leola also enjoyed many hobbies as well. She loved to knit, crochet and quilt; many of her quilts and afghans are still being cherished today by her children and grandchildren. Leola loved to play Bingo once a week and whenever she got the chance she loved to gamble the nickel machines. She also loved a good game of cards, especially with her grandchildren and one by one they would catch on to her cheating! Leola always had a smile for everyone. She could often be heard humming or singing while she went about her daily tasks. She had a lot of funny little sayings that will live on in her children. She could yodel a tune and whistle with her fingers. Leola lived for her family, because in her eyes family came first. She was always there for her kids even after they were grown and left home; she loved them all unconditionally. She was a superb mom and a very huggable, loving grandma and great-grandma known to some of her grandchildren as “Grandma Lola”. She loved children but she had a special love for babies – she had a touch that could hush a screaming baby within minutes, it would amaze most moms. Handing her a baby to cuddle was a sure way of making her smile. Right up until her last days we would put her newest great-grandson in her arms and she would hang on to him like she would never let go. Babies were just her specialty – lucky for all those babies in heaven that will be so well looked after now. Leola was a member of the Springvale Woman’s Institute for many years. She was very dedicated and involved in helping out the community in any way possible. In 1962, Leola and Ivan joined the Manitoba Flying Farmers and went to many flying tours and conventions throughout Canada, USA and Mexico. They became very involved in the organization. They were newsletter editors for a few years. One year Leola was chosen Manitoba Flying Farmer Woman of the Year, and another year she was crowned Queen. Leola and Ivan were honoured to be awarded MFF Couple of the Year in 1969 which happened to be their 25th wedding anniversary. Leola also achieved getting her landit license which meant she was qualified to land an airplane. As we all know, Leola loved flying; she always said it was so relaxing. Leola and Ivan loved to travel and went on many trips to British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario. They went one year on a trip to the Copper Canyon where the truck and trailer were put on the flat deck of a train. Around 1970, Leola and Ivan started driving a truck and trailer down south for the month of February but as the children grew one by one and left home and no more nannies were needed they started spending the winters down there – their last trip being in 2005. They also had a lakefront lot at Pyott’s West Campground where they could fly right on in with the float plane and tie down at the dock out front and spend the weekends. They loved to spend as much time there as possible and loved when family and friends came to visit. In 1998, Leola and Ivan retired to Virden from the farm. They moved a house in and kept very busy with yard work and the door was always open for a visit with family and friends. It was shortly after this that the family noticed Leola’s memory was failing. Aside from the onset of the dreaded Alzheimers’, she stayed busy about the house and yard. In November, 2006, deteriorating health for both Leola and Ivan necessitated a move to the West-Man Nursing Home where they were lucky to be able to be in the same room until Ivan’s passing in January 2009 – three months short of their 65th wedding anniversary. Leola continued to live there till her recent passing. She left us with many wonderful memories which we will cherish forever. She was an incredible lady and a great friend and neighbour. Leola was a happy, smiling, unique individual with a great sense of humour. She was a beautiful woman inside and out. Mom – you were the “Best of the Best” and we are going to miss you forever, but your memory will live on in all of us! Leola was predeceased by her husband Ivan; her father, Fred; mother, Barbara; parents-in-law; brothers Melbourne and Duanne; sister Alvira and her husband Frank; brother-in-law Fred; sister-in-law Irene and her husband Larry. Left to mourn Leola’s passing are her sons Keith (Lois); Terry (Susan); daughters Joyce (Dave) Derksen; Valerie (Garry) Walker; Debra (Dennis) Smith; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren Colleen (Wayne) and son Shane, Aaron (Mary) and children Amonie, Devon, Brock and Ashley, Jason (Darlene) and daughter Bethany, Angela (Allen) and children Olivia and Isaac, Trish (Rocky) and daughter Amber, Chad (Trisha) and children Brittany and Kaidryan, Shawna (Dwight) and children Hali and Damian, Michelle (Jason) and daughter Jadyn, Danielle, Denisha, Carmelle, Natasha, Teikon and son Dylan. Also by brother Henry (Alice), sisters Thelma (Wylie), Shirley (Ray), Violet (Giles), sisters-in-law Eileen, Norma, Hazel (Harry), Eleanor and brother-in-law Lloyd (Carole) as well as many nieces, nephews and other relatives, friends and neighbours including the residents and staff at the West-Man Nursing Home. The ceremony to celebrate Leola’s life was held on Thursday, May 6, 2010 at 2 p.m. at St. Paul’s United Church in Virden, Manitoba with Reverend Jan Van Aertselaer officiating. Soloist was Jackie Mooney. She sang “To Where You Are” and “You Raise Me Up’. Other songs played were “I Will Remember You” and “Goodbye’s the Saddest Word”. Active pallbearers were Leola’s ten granddaughters Colleen Evans, Trish Walker, Angela Wirzba, Shawna Smith-Barre, Michelle Smith-Hayward, Danielle Smith, Denisha Smith, Carmelle Williams, Natasha Williams and Teikon Williams. Ushers were her three grandsons, Jason Derksen, Chad Walker and Aaron Williams. A private family interment followed at Virden Cemetery. A tea and luncheon was held immediately after at the Virden Legion Hall, served by the Legion Ladies Auxiliary. A movie “In Memory of Grandma” was shown for everyone to enjoy. If friends so desire, donations in memory of Leola may be made to West-Man Nursing Home, Box 1630, Virden, MB, R0M 2C0 or the Alzheimer’s Society of Manitoba, Unit 10 – 120 Donald Street, Winnipeg, MB, R3C 4G2. We love you now,We’ll love you always,There is never goodbyesThere is never ending love.We will visit in our dreams,And in our hearts you’ll be foreverUntil we meet again.

As published in Brandon Sun on Jun 19, 2010