Shirley Cooper

 

A resident of the Dundas Manor in Winchester for the past seven years, Sadie Lewis passed away there on Monday, December 23, 2013. She was 95.

Sadie was born in Cardinal, on October 21, 1918, to her parents James and Nellie Lewis (nee Rice). 

Although Sadie was the oldest in a family of four children, she was the last to pass away.

Sadie married Cecil Lewis and they had two children: Miles and Emily. Emily died in 2004, but Miles is with us today, and he remembers fondly his mom baking on Saturday nights, while he listened to hockey on the radio. There were always bowls to scrape and spoons to lick.

Though just four foot, 11 inches tall, Sadie used to say she was 11 foot four and that was true as she was small but mighty. 

All her life, Sadie took care of others; her siblings first, then her mom, her husband, her grandchildren and her daughter. She treated people the way she wanted to be treated, with kindness and compassion.

Money was often scarce in Sadie’s life, but she always managed to come up with gifts for her loved ones, knitting and crocheting pieces that will be treasured for generations. 

Sadie loved a joked and was always ready to laugh at her grandchildren’s exploits.

When Sadie took time for some rest and relaxation, she would head to the nearest river bank with her bamboo pole and a can of worms she and Miles had picked the night before.  

She also liked to watch stock car races.  The races were not really relaxing for Sadie because she could jump higher than anyone when she got excited.  It really helped because her son-in-law Roy Barkley was racing and leading the pack.  

Later on Roy, Emily and Sadie bought their first camper and they thoroughly enjoyed all their friends at the campsite.

Sadie is survived by her son Miles (Debbie) of Dixons Corners, and by her grandchildren Steven Barkley (Linda Young), Gary (Sheila) Barkley, Sherry Lewis, Glen (Donna) Lewis.

She will be fondly remembered by her great-grandchildren Jamie, Scott, Shane, Samantha, Matt, Connor and Jade.

She is also survived by nieces and nephews.

Sadie was predeceased by her husband Cecil Lewis, her daughter Emily Barkley, her son-in-law Roy Barkley, her sister Effie Lewis and her brothers Johnny Lewis and Wesley “Ike” Lewis.        

Friends called at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home, Williamsburg, on Friday December 27th, from 9 a.m. until time of the funeral service at 10 a.m. The service was conducted by Rev. Valerie Vande Wiele.  Interment followed at Dundela Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Glen Lewis, Gary Barkley, Jamie Barkley, Scott Barkley and Shane Barkley

Donations to Dundas Manor Activity Fund would be gratefully acknowledged by the family.  Online condolences may be made at marsdenmclaughlin.com. 

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Joan Margaret Dennison passed away peacefully with family at her side on Thursday, March 20, 2014, at Woodland Villa, Long Sault. She was in her 94th year.

Joan lived a long and very productive life met with many challenges. She was born on August 15, 1920, in Scarborough, England, to her parents Annie and Charles Hanwell.  

She grew up in Britain during World War 2, and was a teacher there.  Many times she would teach during the day and help with the children and adults in the air raid shelters at night. 

Her sister, Zena Hanwell met and married Canadian soldier, Bryce Swerdfeger and together they moved to Canada, to the Ingleside area. In 1947, Joan and her parents immigrated to Canada to be near Zena and her growing family. They settled in Aultsville, until the Seaway was developed, and they moved to Morrisburg.  

Joan met and married a dairy farmer, Cecil Dennison in 1949, and started learning the ways of farming and living in the country.

Joan and Cecil started a family, just mere miles from her sister and her family. They lived in the rural Colquhoun area and raised four children of their own, Cheryl, Linda, Neil and Dale.

In 1964, tragedy struck the family when Zena and Bryce Swerdfeger and their 15 year old son, Garth were killed in a car accident. Their remaining two children, Lynn (Dillabough) and Lester Swerdfeger were openly welcomed into the hearts and souls of the Dennison household and were raised with the other four children. 

Joan’s parents soon lived on the farm in a trailer with them, and she also looked after them in their ailing years. Her father Charles Hanwell passed away from cancer, and her mother Annie Hanwell passed away at the age of 91.  

Joan also looked after her father-in-law who was bedridden for an extended period of time while the children were small.

Joan learned the routine of farming and helped out with the haying season and driving tractors as needed.. 

Joan and Cecil were very dedicated to their church and community and very involved with several activities, including UCW, and church stewardship roles. No matter how busy they were always supportive of needs in the community and would always help neighbours in need. 

Joan taught 4-H for years, and taught her daughters to knit, sew, do crafts and be good homemakers.

She and Cecil passed on the gift of compassion, and how to carry on with grace in the face of adversity to all their children..  

Joan believed in keeping active and learning new things.She decided at the age of 80 to learn how to use computers and also how to paint. She became a very skilled painter doing oils and watercolours and designing her own pictures and Christmas cards which the family will forever treasure. Unfortunately failing eyesight brought this to an end. 

Joan was predeceased by her parents, Annie and Charles Hanwell; her sister, Zena and Bryce Swerdfeger and their son, Garth (1964), by her husband, Cecil (1994) and her son, Neil (2008).  

After Cecil’s death, Joan moved to Williamsburg Seniors Villa where she lived and was very happy for 18 years. She lived at the Hartford Retirement Home in Morrisburg for 1.5 years and spent the last two years at Woodland Villa Nursing Home in Long Sault where she peacefully passed away.  The care and compassion she received there was wonderful and she was happy.

Joan leaves behind her remaining children:  Lester Swerdfeger and family of Ottawa, Cheryl Neild and family of Napanee, Linda of Hamilton, Lynn Dillabough and family of Iroquois, and Dale of Cornwall.

Her funeral was held March 22, 2014, with plans for a spring interment in Colquhoun Cemetery.  Donations were given to Woodland Villa and charities of choice. 

May she rest in well deserved peace.

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  A lifetime resident of the area, Cecil Lewis passed away at the Ottawa Civic Hospital on Wednesday, August 12, 2015, following a lengthy illness. He was 75. Cecil was born in Matilda Township on […]