Else Poley

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Else Poley, 79, in Comox, B.C. (formerly of Blackhawk, Ont. and Germany), who fought and eventually succumbed after a courageous battle with cancer on Oct. 3, 2006.
Just a year ago, Else moved to Comox, B.C. to take advantage of the weather and to spend some time with her son, Tom. Little did any of us know that she already was afflicted with an advanced cancer that would not show its face until March of this year.
Else handled her diagnosis and prognosis with pragmatism and grace.
Else Hildegard Poley (nee Rach) was born in Germany in 1927. It was there she met her future husband, Emanuel. They had five children in Germany and then moved to Canada, where the sixth was born.
They ended up in the Blackhawk area in 1969.
Sadly, her husband, Emanuel Poley, died one year later in 1970; her son, Rolf, in 1984; and her granddaughter, Angie in 2000.
Throughout her life, Else worked hard to single-handedly raise her young family. Her stoicism, her courage, and her ingenuity were inspirational to those of us who knew her well.
Else selflessly devoted most of her efforts to allow her children opportunities that were never available to her. She will be lovingly missed.
Else will be remembered for many important contributions over the course of her long life, but none so much as her own passion for her garden. Even at the end, she found a little strength to walk to her back door and water her precious “flowers.”
She was a deeply committed mother, a loving grandmother, and a wise great-grandmother.
We also will fondly remember her kaffe and kuchen, fried mushrooms, potato salad, and lebkuchen—and let’s not forget the plates of chocolate at Christmas.
Else leaves behind Alwine and Jim Teeple (Blackhawk, Ont.), Rosy and Ingo Kamp (Dorsten, Germany), Tom Poley (Cumberland, B.C.) Andy Poley and Sarah Garson (Toronto, Ont.), and Harold Poley and Patti Stegman (Pittsburgh, Penn.).
She also leaves her grandchildren, Ellard, Dale, Danny, Pam, Ingo, Lars, Natasha, and Max; as well as eight great-grandchildren.
She will be missed by us all.
She also leaves behind many friends in Blackhawk, Emo, Ont., and Stratton, Ont., of whom she spoke lovingly and gratefully received many best wishes from over the past few months in and out of hospital.
A memorial service in celebration of Else’s life will be held in the spring of 2007, with details forthcoming early in the new year.