Dear Curly,
I was shocked to hear of Helen’s passing. When I talked to her a couple of months ago, she said that she did not have much energy and had to rest in the morning and afternoon. I thought that she was still in recovery mode and not that the cancer had returned. She talked about all the family and we shared what we knew of happenings with mutual friends and former colleagues. So, to hear of her death was so unexpected.
Today I am thinking of you and what you are going through just now. Even though you have probably known for a time that Helen was not going to get better, the void in your life that has come with her death is still very difficult to overcome. It has seemed to me that nothing really prepares us for that final separation.
I noticed in the obituary that Garfield Anderson sent to me, that you had been married for fifty-eight years. I think of all the activities that both of you have been involved in over the years – the RCMP get togethers, the Elliott family reunions, the square dancing group, the church activities, your many trips across Canada and overseas, to name just a few, and it is my hope that all those years of wonderful memories, together with the support of your family and many friends, will be what sustains you in the days ahead.
I regret not being able to be at the Memorial Service for Helen but my thoughts will be with you and your family.
With sympathy and kindest thoughts,
Marj Klem
