June 6, 2024
Happy Seniors’ Week!
Recognized annually across Alberta, this week is an opportunity to recognize and show appreciation for older adults and the contributions they make to our communities. At The Brenda Strafford Foundation, we’re thrilled to celebrate the seniors in our lives, and to share the joy, love, and wisdom they bring to our community. In honour of Seniors’ Week, we asked our residents and families to share a photo of their favourite memory to bring joy to our community and highlight the unique and inspiring journeys of those who call BSF home.
Meet Cambridge Manor resident, Ellen, whose favourite memory takes us back to her wedding day on May 26, 1945.
“It represents the beginning of a love story between two people who survived the war and all the hardships involved,” shared Ellen’s family.
“Ellen was born and raised in Yorkshire, England, and her husband, Neil, was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. During the Second World War, Neil joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and became a Flying Officer as a member of the Lancaster bomb squad. During this time, he flew 33 missions. When he was stationed in northern England, he met Ellen on her 21st birthday. They soon married, and they stayed in England until 1946 when Ellen became an English war bride, leaving family, friends and her homeland to join Neil in Canada. She sailed across to Halifax, and then took the train across Canada to Edmonton to begin her new life as a Canadian. Ellen often says what a wonderful life she has had and how happy her and Neil were for the 56 years they shared until Neil died in 2004.
The second photos are on their 50th wedding anniversary, showing the love they still had. They have so many memories of happy times together. They represent to their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren what hard work and love for one and another can be.”
Thank you, Ellen, for sharing such a beautiful memory! Stay tuned for more stories from our residents this week, and visit our website to read more stories from BSF: BSF News
