Obituary of Alice Clark

CLARK ~ Alice Clark passed away at the Dr. Cooke, Lloydminster, Alberta on Saturday, May 3, 2014 at the age of 86 years. Alice leaves to mourn her passing: her children, Terry (Leona) Clark, Bob (Sandra) Clark, Verna Cundliffe, nine grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. Alice was predeceased by her husband, Pete. The funeral service for Alice was conducted from Grace United Church, Lloydminster, Alberta on Thursday, May 8, 2014 at 2:30 P.M. with Reverend Paul DuVal officiating. The eulogy given by Sandy Resch can be seen online. The interment was held in the Lloydminster City Cemetery, Saskatchewan. Donations in memory of Alice Clark can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or Dr. Cooke Patient Comfort. McCaw Funeral Service Ltd., of Lloydminster, Alberta administered the funeral arrangements. Card of Thanks The family of Alice Clark would like to thank everyone who was a part of her life, for the visits, words of sympathy, donations to charities, and for the food and flowers that were delivered to our homes. A thank-you to Dr. Kenyon, Brenda Servold , staff at the Dr. Cooke Extended Care Centre for your caring and compassion. Thank-you to McCaw Funeral Service for helping us through this difficult time. EULOGY Hello everyone. On behalf of my family and myself we thank you for coming today to pay tribute to a very special lady who we loved with all our heart. A number of years ago I was helping my Grandma pack up her place. She had recently been diagnosed with the tumor on her brain and was preparing to move from her condo into the Dr. Cooke. While we were packing my Grandma pulled out a # of papers, showed them to me and asked me if I would give her eulogy when the time came. It is my honor to have been asked by my Grandma, one of the absolute most important people in my life, to give this eulogy and tribute to her. Many of the words I share with you today come directly from my Grandma. She wrote: I was born in Lashburn hospital to John and Muriel Gordon of Marsden on March 10, 1928. I leave to morn one daughter, Verna Cundliffe of Lloydminster, and two sons Bob and his wife Sandy of North Battleford and Terry and wife Leona of Lloydminster. Nine grandchildren Sandy and husband Jeff Resch, Kevin and wife Andrea Cundliffe, Ken and wife Teresa Cundliffe, Stacey Macaloney, Steven and Kimberley Clark, Janelle and husband Jesse Wilson, Cari Griffin and Ashly Griffin. Great Grandchildren Breanna, Jayden, Sam and Rebecca Clark; Travis, Naomi, Nicholas and Tristan Macaloney; Megan, Cole and Haley Resch; Jessica and Matthew Cundliffe. One brother Lyle Gordon of Victoria, BC. I was predeceased by my loving husband Pete in 2004. Mother Murial in 1945 and my father, John, 1975. One brother Jack Gordon 1952, one sister June Boyd 2002, one Grandchild Lyle Cundliffe 1974 and one sister-in-law Iris Gordon 1997. I grew up on a farm North of Marsden, went to Learig School for my education with my brothers and sister. We went by horse and cutter or rode horseback. Sometimes in winter I went on skiis pulled by my brother on horseback. I was only 17 when my mother passed away, the twins 13 so I helped look after them as well as go to school. There was no power or running water in those days. After the twins were old enough to look after themselves I went to work at the Lloydminster hospital. After two years there I married Pete Clark and moved to a farm South of Rivercourse where we raised our three children, Verna, Bob and Terry. After they grew up and got married we sold our farm and built a house in Lloydminster. (my written words) The farm was my second home. Even with all of the chores and responsibilities that come with living on a farm Grandma always had time for me. She spent hours teaching me to dance. Sometimes we would dance together in the living room, other times Grandma would coach me from the sidelines while she peeled potatoes and prepared dinner. I never see canned fruit or baked squares without thinking of Grandma. She had some ready for almost every meal. She loved to have her hair played in. After lunch if we had time she would grab some curlers and a pick, sit down in a chair in the living room and let me play hairdresser. We both loved those times. I don't have a memory of my childhood that does not involve Grandma in some way. She knew how to make a person feel special. She could take the simplest things and make them special. Who would think that a stink little skunk could bring precious memories. Well this little skunk symbolizes a special bond between Grandma and my cousin Janelle. I am not exactly sure how the game got started but when Janelle would go to visit Grandma, Grandma would hide this little skunk. It was then Janelle's mission to find this little skunk. When she would find it, she would take it and hide it in a new spot. It was then Grandma's turn to search, find and rehide that skunk before Janelle returned for her next visit. Like me, you might picture the skunk behind a picture frame or under a bed but these two obviously had a dedication to trying to win their game. Janelle tells us she even went so far as to hide the skunk up in one of the ceiling tiles at Grandma's. Forever, this little skunk will be theirs. Grandma was not at outspoken person. She had a quiet strength and a joy of life; A willingness to try new things. Six years ago we were at the lake. My brothers took Grandma out in the boat, put a rod in her hand and got her fishing. You know my brothers talk about their great fishing abilities but guess who caught the biggest fish that day?? Nope, it was not one of them. . It was my Grandma. Beginners luck?? I think she should have given my brothers a few lessons on how to catch fish! She told us that was the first time she had ever been out in a boat and that was the first time she had ever fished. She loved it and wondered why she had waited all those years to try it. On those papers Grandma gave me years ago she wrote about some of her favorite things. She said: I love to go to bed at night with a soft rain falling and waking in the morning to sunshine and the birds singing. I love nature. When we were on the farm I loved to go walking down to a slough on the roadway and watch the muskrats in the water. Sometimes they were on the shore and had little patches of grass among the willows eaten down as if it were their lawn. They got pretty tame whenever I was around. I liked my garden and lawn that I loved looking after. I loved the fall time to go helping with the harvest, to drive the combine and watch it eat the swaths up. I liked trying new recipes. I could sit down and read a recipe book better than a novel. I really enjoyed dancing. I was too young to remember when I started. My Dad taught me a lot of the dances. As kids we travelled to a lot of the school houses to dances by sleigh and team of horses with our Mother and Dad. In later years Pete and I enjoyed the Old Time dances in the schools and dance halls and especially with the Kitscoty Monday Night Dancers. Dancing has been my life. My main hobby was sewing, which I made a lot of my own clothes as well as bedspreads, drapes, etc. (my words) Together my Grandma and Grandpa raised Arabian horses. Throughout the years they made a lot of miles traveling down the road to shows and clinics taking either my Mom, my Uncle Terry or I to shows. We traveled many miles to places like Saskatoon, Regina, Melfort, Yorkton, and Edmonton just to name a few. They always had a truck and trailer for us to travel in and a place to stay. In all the years we traveled to shows I can only recall one show that Grandma could not make it to. I was not very old but Grandpa and I headed to a show in Turtleford, Sk. I was entered in the costume class so Grandpa did his best getting it on my horse and getting me into the ring. We learned that we could not head to a show without Grandma. I was only about ½ way through my class when the back half of my costume started to fall off of my horse. They had to stop the class and try to put me back together. Never again did we leave without Grandma! Grandma was our number 1 fan. No matter how we did she was always proud of us. Grandma was such a HUGE behind the scenes part of team "Clark". She sewed almost all of our show clothes, always had the camper ready and our meals prepared, helped with tack changes, coached from the sidelines and occasionally became our entertainment. I don't know how many of you know who Tim Conway is but one night many years ago, my Mom and I had the entertaining opportunity to meet him ... or at least a version of him. Grandma, Mom and I were inside the trailer at a horse show in Saskatoon. Grandpa was still at the horse's stalls finishing up with chores. Mom and I had settled into our bed up in the gooseneck area of the trailer when all of a sudden something happened to Grandma and in her place, Tim appeared. Tim began what appeared to be a VERY difficult process of trying to get off of the bed below and onto the floor. We got to watch a huge arm swing and a not so giant step down. I WILL NOT do it justice but it looked something like this... Well Grandma ...I mean Tim continued to perform for us until Grandpa returned to the trailer. By this point we were in stitches with laughter. With the return of Grandpa, it appeared Grandma had reappeared and things became quieter. Now, as I mentioned, Mom and I were up top in the gooseneck and Grandma and Grandpa had the bed down on the main level. They had climbed into bed when all of a sudden we see a tuft of hair poke up and stare at us and then down it would go. Not long after, we'd see the tuft again followed by socks being hurled our way. My poor Grandpa could not find the humor in his bed partner that night but it is a night we will never forget. My Grandma continued to write: I did a lot of volunteer work at the hockey rink, horse shows, dance clubs, the Legacy Center and at the Lloydminster hospital and Wellness clinics. I have done the supercity walk to help raise money for M.S. since it started in Lloydminster, and have done the cancer walk in the summer. (My words) My Uncle Terry played a lot of hockey. Not only at the rinks around Paradise Valley but he also played for the U of A Golden Bears, the Sherwood Park Cruisaders and later played for the Lloyd Border Kings. As parents trying to be at those games, there would be a few miles made on the rode. Grandma and Grandpa made more than a few miles showing their love and support for him because Uncle Terry says they did not miss a game. His Mom and Dad were always there at every game. My Uncle and his Mom had a special relationship. The love and friendship they shared was easily seen by anyone around them. Grandma had such a warm beautiful smile and one of the best laughs. She would laugh with so much feeling that tears would often stream down her face. Uncle Terry sure could make her laugh and it is making her laugh so genuinely that is one of the things he is going to miss the most. The final words on those papers my Grandma gave me were... My family were not only a daughter and two sons but also my best friends. We've had many a laugh together and many a tear. I also have enjoyed my grandkids very much. I love you all very much. Until we meet again - Alice, wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother (My Words) The day before God took Grandma home I was driving in my vehicle. I had my radio on, which is rare for me because I have 3 young children who are usually listening to a movie while we drive. The radio was turned quite low when a song came on that I just had a feeling I needed to turn up. It was the song, "Holes In the Floor of Heaven". The verse says, "There are holes in the floor of heaven and her tears are pouring down. That's how you know she's watching, wishing she could be here now". The day my Grandma was called to Heaven, I sat cuddled with my kids talking about all the special things about my Grandma when that song from the morning before came back into my head. I looked out the window to the falling snow and knew it was no accident. While many people were sad to see the snow envelope the ground, it brought me peace; Because I believe that was Gods way to tell me my Grandma is watching over. So when I see moisture fall from the sky, I will know it's my Gram saying she is neat and that she's missing us as much as we are missing her. I love you Grandma. Your family loves you and thanks you for the amazing woman you are. This is not a goodbye. This is an, "Until we meet again".