Obituary of Monica Parsons

B I O G R A P H Y PARSONS: Monica Louise Parsons passed away in the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta on Wednesday, February 1, 2006 at the age of 87 years. The funeral service for Monica Parsons was conducted from the Grace United Church, Lloydminster, Alberta on Monday, February 6, 2006 at 2:00 P.M. with Pastor Anne Laird and Reverend Bob Aldrich officiating. A eulogy was read by her daughter Greta Gray and son Ian Parsons Special music “Prayer of St. Francis,” was sung by the Grace United Church Choir. Special music “One Day At A Time,” was sung by Joy Hartel. Hymns sung were “When We All Get To Heaven,” and “Amazing Grace,” accompanied on the organ by Irene Knowlson and on the piano by Donna Eyben. Honorary pallbearers were: Active pallbearers were Grandsons: Preston Parsons, Brandon Parsons, Shawn Parsons, Chad Parsons, Sheldon Cote, Cory Hines and Brad Fox. Interment followed in the Lloydminster City Cemetery. McCaw Funeral Service Ltd., of Lloydminster administered the funeral arrangements. Eulogy On May 6th, 1918 Monica Louise Parke was born at home to Amy and Harold Parke with the help of a midwife in Kingston, Jamaica, a small island in the Caribbean, which at that time was known as the British West Indies. She was the second child, having arrived six and a half years after her brother Stanley. The first 28 years of her life were spent on the island. She always considered herself to be raised in a very close-nit family. In her own words as written in her Autobiography: “The school that I attended in Jamaica was divided into two large segments: one for the girls, and the other for the boys. The grounds were quite spacious with tennis courts, basketball courts, etc. There was a pathway leading from the girl’s school to the boy’s. The girl’s were allowed to go and see the boys when a football game was on. The girls cheered “like mad” for the various fellows they knew. Other than these games, we were not allowed to associate with the boys, but many a note was passed over the fence when teachers weren’t looking. We all wore uniforms - blue skirts, white middy blouses with blue trim and straw hats trimmed with school colors. Here’s a little more information about my school. It had a student body of around three hundred girls. The teachers were all women. Every morning the students from all the classrooms had to form lines and march into the gymnasium where we sang a hymn and were given any special instructions or announcements. After saying a prayer, the Head Mistress would dismiss us to go back into our classrooms. I look back now with fond memories of the years I spent attending “Wolmer’s Girls School.” After graduation I worked in a bank for a short while but left it for a secretarial job in a war-time office called “The Imports-Exports and Prices Board.” The work was interesting and the staff friendly and helpful. At my home, one of the first sights visitors saw was were the large cement pots Dad had made and filled with beautiful ferns. These were spaced from the gate around the curving driveway and ending at the steps to the veranda. On the other side was a lovely curved archway with gorgeous pink and white bougainvilleas. Across from the driveway were lots of beds filled with his favorite flowers - tea roses and different flowers. People used to stop when walking by the gate to admire these beautiful flowers.” (End Quote) During that time, all middle and upper-class families, had servants to do their work - both household and outside garden chores. Mom had many fond memories of her early childhood in Jamaica. Among these were her trips to the other side of the island to visit friends and family, always enjoying her visits to Duuns River Falls, Doctors Cave Beach, and Montego Bay. She would spend many happy hours on the beautiful white sand beaches swimming, tanning, and having lunch at a little Café under huge tropical branches in the Jamaican sunlight. In her words,” Life in those days, despite the war, was full of wondrous carefree days. My life was simple and uncomplicated. There was work to do in the days and parties to attend in the evenings. I dated a few fellows but never had anything serious in mind. It was during this time that a Canadian contingent calls the “Irish Fusiliers” came to Jamaica for special training before being sent to the front. My good friend Molly became quite attached to one of these fellows and before long decided to get married. She asked me to be her chief bridesmaid and it was at that wedding that I met my future husband Don, who was the best man. However, it wasn’t long after that the army left the island to return to Canada. Before he left, Don proposed and after telling my parents I accepted. He sent me an engagement ring in the mail and we corresponded for two years before I came to Canada. What an “eye-opener” Canada proved to be. The big cities, the huge buildings, and then the vast prairies. I was met at the airport in Toronto by my friends with whom I stayed for a week. At the end of the week, they drove me to the railroad station where I took a train to Chauvin, a few miles from my fiancé’s home. Of course I was apprehensive about taking this trip as during my stay in Toronto I was told by a few people that the prairies were inhabited by “wild Indians” and had no conveniences whatsoever of comfortable living. Not even motor cars! Happily, most of this was not true but as far as lacking any city amenities, it was right - no electricity, no running water or indoor plumbing. It was an awakening to a different, and at times, difficult, life. However, after spending three months there, Don and myself decided to get married. I knew very few people so it was a small wedding in the United Church in Lloydminster on November 25, 1946. We had a week’s honeymoon in Edmonton, returning to begin life in a Hamlet called McLaughlin.” (End Quote) The next thirty-six years were to be spent on the farm. Despite many an obstacle to overcome with the tremendous cultural differences, love prevailed and soon they were blessed with three wonderful children: a son Brian, born February 25, 1949; a son Ian, born June 13, 1953; and a daughter Greta, born September 19, 1954. Our happy family enjoyed many years on the family farm. Mom grew to love the farming lifestyle and quickly became an active part in her little community. Joining the church and singing in the choir were certainly two of her favorite activities. In the fall of 1981, Mom and Dad planned to build a retirement home in Lloydminster, as Ian and Marilyn were to be married in the summer and would take over the family farm. A lot was purchased, a plan was picked, and they left for their winters stay in Arizona. Construction of their home began in January, with Ian taking the winter off to be the carpenter’s right hand man. The design decisions were left to Greta, and Brian filled in whenever his work allowed. It was truly a labor of love, a special gift to our parents. Upon their return, some four months later, they were told we had run into many setbacks, but we had a good start. To their utter surprise, when they turned the key, their home was completely finished and ready to move into. What a thrilling moment we shared. Soon Mom became an active member of the Grace United Church, joining the choir, the UCW, and always eager to be involved in various Bible Study Groups. Faith was always a very significant part of Mom’s life, from her childhood, to the time of her passing. Mom and Dad enjoyed twelve happy years in the comfort of their new home. After Dad’s passing, Mom continued to live there for an additional twelve years. Just recently she moved to the Doctor Hemstock Assisted Living Facility, where we all looked forward to a time of pampered-comfort, but it was not meant to be. After just thirteen days, she was admitted to the Lloydminster Hospital, and later sent to Edmonton where she passed away to glory on February 1, 2006. In closing Monica’s family are united in saying we feel honored and blessed to have had such a truly special lady as our mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and great grandmother. She has left a legacy filled with love and special memories. Our adoration for her will life forever in our hearts She was predeceased by her parents, Harold and Amy Parke; her loving husband, Don Parsons on September 2, 1994, her eldest son, Brian on June 22, 1985; her brother Stanley Parke of Jamaica; her daughter-in-law Shirley on April 28, 1974; her sister-in-law Lily McGale of Edmonton; her brothers-in-law Bill and Bob. She leaves to mourn her loving family: her son Ian and Marilyn of McLaughlin and their children Preston and Lyndsie; her daughter Greta and Lloyd Gray of Marwayne and their daughters Tracy and Brad Fox and family, Teena and Cory Hines and family; her daughter-in-law Sherry and Roy Hein and children Rhonda and Sheldon Cote, Shawn and Lanna Parsons, Brandon and Michelle Parsons, Chad Parsons and families; her sister-in-law Helen Parsons of Lloydminster as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Card of Thanks Monica’s family would like to express their sincere thanks to the staff at the Lloydminster and Royal Alexander Hospitals, Dr. Sayeed and Dr. Abrasi for their compassionate care. A very special thank you to all who had a part in the service of celebration of mom’s life; - Pastor Anne Laird and Rev. Bob Aldrich for honoring our mother in such a wonderful way - Irene Knowlson, Donna Eyben and Joy Hartel for sharing their beautiful gifts of music - Linda McCaw and Joyce Carson for their warm, touching tributes and to the UCW ladies for providing such a lovely lunch. Our thanks to Glenn McCaw and McCaw Funeral Service for their kindness and caring. A heartfelt thank you to all our dear friends and neighbors for their visits, phone calls, food, flowers, donations and their expressions of sympathy. It is indeed all of you who have helped us through this difficult time. To all who shared in our mother’s life in so many special ways, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Donations may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation.