July 23, 1921 - March 1, 2012
It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of Elaine Tellier. Elaine was born in Extension in 1921, the eldest daughter of George and Agnes Bramley. Our coal miner’s daughter enjoyed happy but tough times through the depression and war years when the family lived off the farm and spent days hiking the hills picking wild berries to make ends meet.
Mum attended school in Extension for the early grades and was able to attend high school by riding her bike each day over the ridge to South Wellington, and yes, it was a long uphill both ways.
Elaine married Lou in 1943 and they remained in the Extension area that Mum loved so well to raise their family. Following years of saving, Elaine and Lou moved their family into the new home that they built and Elaine resided there until her passing. Mum was always active in the community whether it was campaigning to bring electricity to the village, PTA activities or representing Extension on the Nanaimo Water Board. Mum was proud of the role she played in organizing the Mobile library for the Extension school. She was a strong advocate for women’s right and ‘equal pay for equal work’.
You always knew where Mum stood on politics and she loved a good debate. Family memories include trips to the BC interior, day long picnics spent swimming at the Nanaimo River and several excursions across Canada. She fulfilled a life-long dream with a trip around the world in 1984 which included the trans-Siberian railway. Mum’s hobbies included sewing and gardening. Each year her sundeck was alive with hummingbirds enjoying her feeders and flowers. Other wildlife tended to avoid her yard when Mum’s “Calamity Jane” came out in her. Mum had a very sweet tooth and always had an ample supply of treats to share with family and friends.
Mum always had time for her grandchildren. Gram’s love of cooking made Sunday dinners a “never to be missed” affair and we are blessed to have had the time for her to pass along her culinary skills to the next generations. We all loved her mini-waffle cookies and home-made pies. Gram lovingly cared for many a grandchild after school and when they were ill or injured.
She will be fondly remembered for her springtime fire clean-ups and for her not-so-secret stash of pop and Dilly-bars. Gram never forgot a birthday. This past summer family and friends gathered to join Elaine for her 90th birthday celebration and to reminisce on all the wonderful memories that were gathered over those 90 years.
Elaine was predeceased by her husband Lucien in 1979 and her two sisters Shirley Delcourt (Ernie) and Beverly Longden (Cyril). She is survived by her children Gerry (Vikki), Cheryl, and Brenda (Jim) Shaw, her grandchildren Trevor (Erynn), Bradley (Melissa), Ryan, Cole (Alisha), Lauren, Genna, Nathan, her great-grandchildren Anysia, Samuel, Juliana, Emma, her friend/cousin Marguerite and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family would like to thank Dr Andrew Baird for his compassionate care of Mum these many years. Thanks also to the many wonderful workers of Nanaimo Home Support, staff at Dufferin Cedar and Dr Uchman.
A Memorial Tea will be held at the Extension Community Hall, Saturday April 14, 1:00 - 4:00 pm. In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Cancer Society.
Your memory is our keepsake
With which we’ll never part
No matter where life takes us
We’ll keep you in our heart