Obituary of Gladys TRAER

1926 – 2017 Marie Gladys Traer (nee Harquail) was born on September 10, 1926 in the small mill town of Dalhousie, New Brunswick. She was raised by loving parents, Laura (homemaker) and James (horse teamster) in the home her father built. She was the 2nd of 5 children. She loved to learn from an early age and when it was time for her older brother Lou to head to grade one she was relentless to be allowed to join him. From the moment her feet crossed the school stoop, she never looked back. She went on to receive the Governor General’s award for top marks in the province of New Brunswick in her senior year of high school. She attended the University of New Brunswick (UNB) on full scholarship for four years – quite an accomplishment for a small-town girl from humble beginnings. While at university she won several academic awards and played on the women’s basketball team. Having never held a basketball in her hands before entering University, she not only made the team, but climbed to captain by her final year. That year they won the Maritime championship. Her teammates called her “Lightning”; it was a highlight in her life. It was not all smooth though. Days before she was to enter university her father was killed crossing his team of horses over a train track en route to the mill. It took tremendous courage and strength for Gladys to leave her mother and younger siblings at home and head off, at 16 years old, to a faraway town where she would find herself one of few women studying pure sciences at UNB. It was during the summer of 1945 that Gladys met the love of her life, Frederick Traer. Young love overtook and Gladys left a prestigious research position to open a bakery with her newlywed husband in Ontario. Gladys and Fred had two children, Fred Jr. (who resides in Toronto with his wife Margaret) and Alice (husband Mark Wayne). Gladys would tell you that these were some of the happiest days of her life. She earned a second degree and went on to teach high school math. Her world was turned upside down when her husband Fred passed away in the summer of 1988. Not long after, Gladys moved to Calgary to be closer to her only grandchildren, Laura, David and Fraser. She was cherished by her grandchildren and no family trip or piano recital was complete without “Nanny.” She was a pillar in the family and her unconditional love and support has been woven through our lives. Gladys spent 24 wonderful years in her condo at Cactus Ridge in Signal Hill where she made many dear friends. In her 90th year she embraced her move to an assisted living unit at the Manor at Signature Park. Gladys lived her life with grace and dignity; she worked hard and chose her words carefully. She was a proud Canadian. Gladys passed peacefully with family by her side at the age of 90. We are profoundly sad that she has left us, but we consider ourselves fortunate to have had her with us so closely and for so long. Her love and presence in our lives was a gift beyond measure. Gladys is survived by her loving sister, Lucy Gilbert (Paul); brother, Carl Harquail (Marilyn); sister-in-law, Rolly and a number of precious and devoted nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers, Lou and Harold. We are deeply appreciative of the superb medical attention that Gladys received over the years in Calgary. A Celebration of Gladys’s Life will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY (Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive S.W. Calgary, AB) on Sunday, April 9, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. “What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” –Helen Keller