Obituaries

SIMSER (FRANCIS) EDNA MARY

Heaven has another angel

It is with broken hearts, fond memories and great sadness we, the family, announce the passing of our beloved mother in her 90th year. Mom gently passed away on October 30, 2018

Leaving behind a legacy of kindness, loyalty and a gratitude for a long life well lived. Mom, you gave us so much and asked for so little in return. Your love was unconditional and our lives have been so enriched knowing and loving you. We shall miss all the stories that you recalled for us from the 90 years you spent on earth.

Edna Mary Francis was born in London Ontario. Mom was the oldest daughter of the late Margia Burton (Sims) and John Cameron Faulds Francis of London, Ontario.

Mom and Dad were married in London, Ontario but after the birth of her first 2 children, Linda and John she moved the family to Toronto, where she had Michael, her 3rd and last child, as she was fond of saying one of him was enough. They lived there for many years. The family then moved to Burlington, Ontario where she lived till 2010 when she came to live in her adopted province of Nova Scotia, making Beaver Bank her new home.

Throughout the years, mom loved to spend her summer vacations at the cottage in Northern Ontario with her family and her many friends. Sundays would find Mom baking for her family and friends, she was an amazing baker especially her ice box cookies. She loved to get up early in the summer and would go to pick raspberries and strawberries to make her famous pies and jams, which her husband would give away. She loved to meet people wherever she went or worked. Mon had a great sense of humour and with the help of the internet she was able to keep up with all her friends and their funny jokes, which she loved to pass on.

In the early 50’s while Mom was busy raising a family she worked at “Fran’s” restaurant in Toronto. The 1St was on the corner of Yonge & Front St across from the CBC building where she met many celebrities who dropped in for coffee. Mom said that “Juliet” was as beautiful in person as she was on TV. The 2nd was on the corner of Church & Carlton St across from the old Maple Leaf Gardens where some of the hockey players came in for coffee. Dick Duff was one of her favourite's; he would make her smile no matter how bad the day was going.

In the early 60’s the family moved to Burlington. She started to work at the IGA and in 1962 Mom was named “queen of the super market checker-cashier” in Ontario and the Canadian region. She was chosen by a board of judges who meet in Chicago to review candidates from 3000 super markets in the United States and Canada. She was selected as the 1st Canadian by the board of judges to receive the “CHECKER OF THE YEAR AWARD” in Canada. Mom was flown to Chicago for a weeklong celebration with the American candidates. While in Chicago Mom was wined and dined, seeing all the sights that Chicago had to offer, but the crowning glory for the week was attending 2 plays. Mom worked at the IGA as a customer service manager for the next 30 years till she retired. In that time she developed a vibrant passion for travel and had time to go on cruises Spain was one of her favourite places but no matter where she traveled she loved to tell us in great details about her adventures and the many interesting people she met.

When the last of us children left home in the early 70’s, Mom now had time for her 2 great passions, the theater and Vegas. She loved to get dressed in evening wear and go to the Royal Alex Theater in Toronto for stage plays and the ballet and intermission wine. In 1972 she started to go to Vegas with her friends / co-workers and family members, which she did yearly till 2010. Mom was very lucky in Vegas, winning her entire trip on the slots. As mom said, they were the magic years and she saw all the great stars of the time. Frank Sinatra was her favourite artist, she always had a front table to watch him perform.

Mom then came to Nova Scotia, her adopted province, to live. Not a person to sit at home she joined the CROWN JEWELS of CANADA SOCIETY and over the next 5 years she enjoyed the many outings and friendship of the people she meet who made her feel right at home in Nova Scotia. Mom loved to go to the Sackville Super Store Mall just to say “hi” to everyone each visit. Mom did not forget her home province of Ontario, and that showed in her support of the Toronto Blue Jays and the Maple Leafs. She would watch them play on TV and could be heard, giving the coach instructions on how to win the game they were playing that day. Mom never lost her passion for current affairs or politics. Each morning she would read the paper from front to back while drinking her morning cup of coffee with Baileys. Each evening at supper time with Sinatra playing in the background she would discuss what she read in the paper while sipping a glass of white wine while her son cooked supper.

One of the high lights of her stay in Nova Scotia, which she liked to tell all her friends, was when The Honourable Percy Paris MLA, at the time, for Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank, knocked on the door and personally gave her a congratulations from the government for her 85th birthday. They spent a great time talking about the Nova Scotia government and the world in general.

Mom will lovingly be remembered by her daughter Linda, (Willie), Waterdown, Ontario, John, Vancouver, British Columbia and Michael (Jennie), Beaver Bank, Nova Scotia. Cherished grandchildren Kira, Brantford, Ontario, Greg, Burford, Ontario and Rhonda Lee, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Brother Jack Francis (Maggie), London, Ontario. Sister-in-laws Margaret Simser Toronto Ontario and Mary Elizabeth Simser Toronto Ontario and many nieces and nephews. But most of all her four-legged grand babies Shadow, Sophie and Annabelle.

Edna was predeceased by her loving husband, John, of 60 years, sisters Agnus and Molly and brother, Stuart.

Mom, we will carry you with love in our hearts always

Cremation has already taken place

A celebration of Memories will be held in her honour at a later time in Ontario

Online condolences can be made to:

www.donaldkwalker.ca