CLARA OTTERTAIL

Clara Ottertail, 80, passed away peacefully Sunday, Oct. 5, 2003 with her family by her side at Rainycrest Home for the Aged in Fort Frances, Ont.
Clara was predeceased by her parents, Nora and William Labott; one brother, Billy (Jane Helen) Labott; four sisters, Annie Ottertail, Lizzie (Willie) Ottertail, Jenny (Ed Opheim) Williams, and Mary E. (Andrew Sr.) Jourdain; one daughter, Janet (Angus Sr.) Oshawe; one son, Ernest Ottertail; and a newborn granddaughter, Angel Ottertail.
Surviving is her husband of 58 years, George Ottertail Jr.; five sons, Jerry (Sheila) Ottertail, Leonard (Melba) Ottertail, and Fred (Camilla) Ottertail, all of Lac La Croix First Nation, and Wesley Ottertail and Eugene Ottertail, both of Fort Frances; four daughters, Joan (Albert) Morrison of Lac La Croix First Nation, Alice (Howard Whitecrow) Ottertail of Seine River First Nation, Joyce (Elmer Jr.) Mainville of Couchiching First Nation, and Myrna Ottertail; and one sister, Helen Geyshick.
Also surviving are the grandchildren that she raised, Vivian (Ralph Campbell) Oshawe, Angus Jr., and Ryan Oshawe, all of Lac La Croix First Nation; plus 29 other grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild, all of whom she cherished.
Clara also has numerous nieces and nephews, with whom she had special relationships.
Clara was a very creative and unique woman, who practised and respected her traditional ways. She enjoyed many activities, such as beading and working with hide, quilt and rug-making, and making her own dresses.
Clara also enjoyed preparing seasonal wild foods, wild rice, and picking blueberries.
Clara enjoyed the company of her peers of Lac La Croix by playing traditional games, and she enjoyed going to pow-wows and listening to pow-wow music. Clara most enjoyed being together with all of her sisters.
A wake service will be held Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2003, and the funeral service will be held the following morning on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2003 at the family home in Lac La Croix First Nation.
Elder Gilbert Smith will officiate, with interment in the Lac Croix Cemetery.
The pallbearers will be Clara’s family and friends.
In memoriam donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada or an association of your choice.
“Eagle When She Flies” by Dolly Parton
She’s been, God knows she’s been there
She has seen and done it all
She’s a woman, she knows how to dish it out or take it all
Her heart’s as soft as feathers
Still she weathers stormy skies
And she’s a sparrow when she’s broken
But she’s an Eagle when she flies.