July 2nd, 2012

My Maiden Aunt

Hildred Evelyn Thompson  ca 1918

Bd. July 2nd, 1903

D.  Nov. 26th, 1994

My grandparents were both descendants of United Empire Loyalist who had settled

on land in Southern Ontario after the American Revolution.

Before they came West they lived in Chesterville, where this picture of

Hildred, their youngest daughter, was taken.

and here, the family  in a visit to say goodbye to her Grandfather, before 

the journey west to Calgary.

Before a half a dozen years had passed my father, leaning on the left side of the post

had been wounded at Cambrai in the First World War,

and Harriet and Edith,  my other two Aunts at the right had married

and then tragically died in the Influenza Epidemic of 1918.

When my Aunt Hildred had finished school she became a secretary, working for the

 United Grain Growers of Alberta.   She became engaged, but didn't marry when her fiance turned 

out to be a  rascal and a bounder, so that when I began spending childhood summers in Calgary

she was there, at my Grandparents' home, beloved of all her nieces and nephews.

The epitome of kindness, love, generosity and patience.

I loved her dearly.

The last gift of all is Remembrance and I hope I can pass that on to my family

so that her memory is cherished at least for another generation.