VIOLET HANDS

Violet Bernice (Wood) Hands died peacefully at her home at Rainycrest Long Term Care, with her family by her side, on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2010 at the age of 87.
Violet was born in Emo, Ontario to Albert and Ella (Russell) Wood, one of eleven children.
She attended school there and began work, doing housekeeping and later worked at the dry cleaners.
She was married to Garnet Hands on July 21, 1943. They lived on a small farm north of Emo and raised their five children there.
In 1999, they moved to an apartment in the manor in Emo until they entered Rainycrest in 2001.
Violet was a true homemaker, never having worked outside her home.
She loved her kitchen and she was known for her homemade bread and buns, pies of all kinds, and her dill pickles.
Some of our fondest memories are of coming home from Mather #8 school and being greeted at the door by Mom, and the wonderful aroma of her fresh bread that was baked in her wood stove.
In later years when they built their new house and she finally had running water and an indoor bathroom, she wasn’t quite sure about that electric stove.
The one thing she missed was her wood stove.
Violet canned hundreds of quarts of vegetables, fruit, and deer meat over the years.
She loved to knit and crochet, and sewed several “log cabin” quilts together by hand as it became harder for her to walk due to her progressing CMT.
Violet loved to sing and yodel as she worked. She had a happy heart and a positive attitude.
Her contentment and strength came from a personal relationship with her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Violet and her family were active members of the Off Lake Covenant Church.
Violet cooked for 20 years at Sunny Cove Camp, but her claim-to-fame was that she cooked for a week at a fishing lodge for U.S. vice-president Walter Mondale. She was rather nervous but later said he was just a regular guy!
Violet was a member of the Women’s Institute and was a leader of the local 4-H Club for several years.
Violet is survived by her four children, Larry and wife Barbara (Scheibler) of Fort Frances, Ontario; Louise and husband Gary Wood of Belle Fourche, South Dakota; Helen and husband Rod Finlayson of Thornhill, Ontario; Bradley and wife Mona (Schock) of Elgin, North Dakota; 15 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
She is also survived by one sister, Helen Stirling of Calgary, Alberta; and one brother, Carl of British Columbia, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Violet was predeceased by her husband, Garnet; daughter Kathy; her parents Albert and Ella Wood; stepmother Grace; brother, Henry Wood; and sisters Myrtle Wall, Edna Roste, Irene Beer, Elsie Miller, Maria Erickson, Annie Willis, and Beatrice Wood.
The funeral service was held at the Northridge Funeral Home on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010 at 2 p.m. with Pastor Ken Johnson officiating.
Interment took place in Emo Cemetery. Pall bearers were Trevor Hands, Steve Hands, David Finlayson, Jonathan Finlayson, Brett Hands, and Justin Hands.
If desired, memorial donations may be made to Off Lake Covenant Church or to the charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be offered at www.northridgefuneralhome.com