Mrs. Alice Valdock peacefully passed away on Thursday, April 9, 2009.
She was born March 8, 1919 to Ingeborg and Jorgen Olson. Mom was the last of 16 children in her family.
She is survived by her children, Ron (Julia) Valdock, Bruce (Linda) Valdock, Linton (Trudy) Valdock, Brian (Rossalyn) Valdock, Lisa (Dave) Peloquin, and Lorelei Valdock; 14 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren; with one great-great-grandchild due in May.
She also is survived by many, many nieces and nephews.
Mom was predeceased by her first husband, Charlie Armstrong; her daughter, Gayle Armstrong; her second husband, Alex Valdock; and her travelling companion, John Karwacki Sr.
Mom was a trend-setter at a very young age, being the first girl to wear pants to school. Mom also loved music and dance, and dreamed of a career in theatre until she met Charlie, her first love.
She was married at 18 and had four children: Ron, Bruce, Gayle, and Linton. Shortly after, she became a widow as Charlie passed away in 1944.
With four small children, she moved to Fort Frances, Ont. and took on the welfare system to get permission to go to work to support her family. During these years, she lost her home and all of her possessions to a fire.
Nine years passed with unacceptable suitors as her family was everything.
She met her second love, Alex, at a dance. They married and had three more children, Brian and twins, Lisa and Lori.
Alex passed away in 1990.
Alice loved life. She loved nature and she recycled far before it was popular. She sold Sarah Coventry and Amway products, and thrived on the independence it gave her.
She loved people and babies, she loved gardening and crafts, she loved reading and walking, and she was always the life of the party.
Over the years, she developed a strong sense of her beliefs and was very quick to share them with anyone.
Alice was one-of-a-kind, an amazing woman and an inspiration to all.
We love you and miss you, and you will live on in our hearts forever until we are reunited again.
A memorial service was held Monday, April 13, 2009 at 1 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Centre.
Online condolences may be offered at www.mem.com