Obituary of Gladys Snell

B I O G R A P H Y SNELL: Gladys May Snell (nee Gregson) passed away September 18, 2005 in the Maidstone Hospital, at the age of 77 years. Gladys is survived by three sons - Ted Snell of Lloydminster, Steve Snell of Lloydminster and Bob (Heather) Snell of Waseca, one daughter - Renee (Morris) Donovan of Waseca, one daughter-in-law Sandy Snell of Waseca, nine grandchildren, two great grandchildren and numerous other relatives. Gladys was predeceased by her husband Ernie in 1979 and her son Bill in 2005. The funeral service was conducted from the Waseca Memorial Hall, Waseca, Saskatchewan on September 23, 2005 with Reverend Ean Kasper officiating. The hymns sung were “How Great Thou Art,” and “In The Garden.” Following the service, lunch was served by the Waseca Hall Board. A private family interment for Gladys and Bill was held at the Waseca Cemetery with Reverend Ean Kasper offering prayers. McCaw Funeral Service Ltd., of Lloydminster administered the funeral arrangements. Eulogy as given by Rob Burns Gladys May Snell was born May 6, 1928, the 2nd oldest of seven children of Charles and Blanche Gregson. She spent her childhood and took her schooling in Paynton. As a young woman, Gladys travelled to Moose Jaw to work as a waitress, then to Waseca to work as a “Hello Girl” on the Waseca switchboard. Well, she met, fell in love and married Ernest Snell December 19, 1949. Gladys spent the rest of her life tending to her family. Teddy arrived September 26, 1950, followed by Stevie September 25, 1951, Bobby March 6, 1953, Billy April 12, 1954, and finally a girl, Renee October 5, 1958. The years flew by as Gladys and Ernie drove the children to hockey, ball, curling , 4-H and Scouts. Gladys loved to read, and as children, bedtime stories included poems by Robert Service and fairy tales by Anderson. Gladys also found time for the community, sitting on the local school board and hall boards. Cards and dances, wiener roasts at the river or Birch Lake, summers at Turtle Lake or Church at Gramma and Grampa Snell’s brought them together with family and friends. During this Gladys made time to become very proficient in ceramics. Gladys worked in the Co-op Store until the family purchased the Corner Station and Restaurant. The Corner Station was not something that both Gladys and Ernie really wanted. They purchased it to help the residents of Waseca and the surrounding area as it was the place where many of the local people went. Gladys enjoyed people, young, old, strangers, friends, even the army boys who stopped on their way back to Wainwright and got something to eat. When they had gone, there was no pop, bars or burgers, all that was left was Gladys’s smile. Gladys was an avid sports fan, buying a new score book for each World Series and she had control of the T.V. when the Brier’s were on. She enjoyed curling and would smile remembering that they were the first ladies rink in the Farmer’s Bonspiel and she was sure that the Chinese food at the Prince Charles was better than whatever the men were having at the banquet. As the children grew, she would be in the stands. Green skidoo suit for Bobby’s hockey and Blue down jacket to watch Ted and Renee curl or Billy and Steve play ball. (I can remember one time about 24 years ago the Waseca Boys were playing broomball in Lashburn and Patsy and I convinced Gladys to go with us. Everything was going along very well until later into the game the referee made a bad call and with the Waseca boys losing, Gladys made the referee know that he had made a bal call. She didn’t let it go and kept on the referee until he stopped the game and made Gladys leave the open area of the rink and go behind the glass to watch the rest of the game. Shortly after my youngest daughter Coleen was hit on the side of the head with the broomball coming over the boards, knocking her flat on her back. The game ended and a brawl broke out. The moral of my story, I never asked Gladys to another sporting event. After Ernie’s death in 1979, Gladys worked for Canada Post as the postmistress in Waseca. Canoe and ski trips, train trips and grey cup parties kept Gladys close to friends and her growing family. The nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren added much delight. In 1993, Gladys sold the family home in Waseca and moved to Lloydminster, where she spent her time visiting, people watching and going to Turtle Lake. She never tired of watching the lake change color. Gladys also enjoyed birds, amazed by their diversity, habits and colors. Hummingbirds were her favorite. In the fall of 1995, Gladys moved to Tighudun Apartments in Lashburn, promptly putting up bird feeders. Friends, feathered or not, were always welcome. Material goods were not Gladys’ main concern, spending time with family and friends was money well spent. Gladys passed away September 18 in Maidstone after a short battle with cancer. Gladys will certainly be remembered by all of us. Card of Thanks Our families extend our thanks to Dr. Howard-Tripp and the rest of the staff at the Maidstone Hospital, the Home Care staff in Lashburn, and my Lashburn Lookout. Thank you to Reverend Ean Kasper for your comforting words, Mildred Benkendorf for her accompaniment on the piano, the Waseca Hall Board for lunch. Thank you to Glenn McCaw and staff for caring and professional help with the arrangements. To family and friends Perhaps you sent a lovely card, or sat quietly in a chair. Perhaps you sent a funeral spray, if so we saw it there. Perhaps you spoke the kindest words, as any friend could say: Perhaps you were not there at all, just thought of us that day. Whatever you did to console our hearts, We thank you so much whatever the part. The Snell Family Donations in memory of Gladys may be made to the Pine Island Lodge Building Fund.