Friday, January 29, 2016
When Vera was about my current age, 75, she said, 'I don't want to die yet, I have too much to do!' Well, she got her wish and, easy for her as she had so much energy, she got cracking!!. Among many other activities and interests, she did a woodworking course and produced two family genealogy books. Aged 79, she sold her own house in Kingston, and had a house built to her specifications in Brockville!
She was a force to behold ... and to emulate if you could muster up her stamina. She had a variety of interests, politics and money management being top favourites, I would say.
I shared an office with Vera at St. Lawrence College and eventually, we became close friends. I once remarked that I thought she was 'driven.' Well, she liked that epithet and often got me to remind her again of the word I had used..
I loved that she dried her used but not soiled paper towels for later reuse. I also loved that she knew so much about current affairs. She was a cozy person to spend time with. There's so much about Vera that I enjoyed and admired, and I'm very sorry that New Zealand and my au pair duties with my grandchildren have kept me from seeing her lately.
Vera knew how to live and how to enjoy herself. I have no doubt that she will have been well prepared for her life to come to a conclusion, and will probably not have minded letting go at the enviable old age of 95.
My condolences to her much-loved nieces and nephews and to her many friends.
Marilyn
