Obituary of Elsie Caroline MCNICHOL

(nee) Kaminski, formerly van den Brink November 22, 1910 – Gretna, Manitoba March 11, 2017 – Calgary, Alberta Our Mom, Grandmother, Great and Great-Great Grandmother Elsie passed March 11, 2017 after over 106 years of life. Elsie was born in Gretna MB in 1910 to Karl and Rosa (Engel) Kaminski; Karl from Prussia, Rosa from Romania. She was the only girl out of 9 children. When she was four the family relocated to a new homestead just north of Castor AB, where the family would farm and build their lives. With the Great Depression of 1929 Elsie had to leave the homestead and traveled to Calgary for work. Here, in the darkest of times she made her way by doing whatever work she could find, mostly housekeeping and custodial work, often in exchange for just food and lodging. It was at that time she met and fell in love with Pierre van den Brink, the son of a CPR railroad man, and they were soon thereafter married. They had two sons, William in 1932 and Leonard in 1933. Pierre tragically passed in 1941 and Elsie was left to raise their boys alone during World War Two and in the years immediately after. Elsie found home and solace in the First Church of the Nazarene and it was there she met her second love, George McNichol. They married in 1961. Elsie and George lived a wonderful life and reveled in their families. George passed in 1989. Elsie was an indomitable spirit and lived independently until just before her passing. In her recent years she lived in the Arbour Lake Retirement Community where she had many, many amazing friends and was truly the Queen Bee. Elsie was above all committed to her faith. She believed in her Saviour Jesus Christ. She was not afraid. We will all miss her; this is truly the end of an era, a generation where people stood proudly and asked for nothing but a chance. Rest well our mother, our Grammie; your time here is done and peace is now upon you. Funeral Services will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY (Crowfoot, 82 Crowfoot Circle N.W.), on Friday, March 17, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. Graveside Service to follow at Queen’s Park Cemetery. Condolences may be forwarded through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. Our family wishes to thank the caring staff of Unit 61 of the Foothills Hospital and above all the kindness and devotion of the staff of the Salvation Army Agape Hospice. In living memory of Elsie McNichol, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Crowfoot, 82 CROWFOOT CIRCLE N.W. Telephone: 403-241-0044.