Obituary of Eva Marie LANDEEN

LANDEEN, Eva Marie December 1, 1918 – Gull Lake, Saskatchewan November 28, 2015 – Calgary, Alberta Our beloved Mom, Eva Marie Landeen (Tetzlaff), passed away peacefully at the Father Lacombe Care Center 3 days short of her 97th birthday with her loved ones by her side. Mom was the 3rd oldest child out of 7 siblings born on the family farm in Gull Lake, Saskatchewan to her parents, Florence and Andrew Tetzlaff. Times were difficult in the Dirty 30s. They couldn’t raise crops as the winds blew everything away. Gardens were almost nil. Her Dad would haul coal for their winter supply. Their Xmas tree was decorated with popcorn, apples, oranges and real candles. On Xmas Day, they would light the candles and Mom said it was so beautiful. Each child would get one present which was always homemade. In 1940, Mom left the farm to come to Calgary. She got a job at the original White Spot working for George Pucketts. Her grade 10 education didn’t get her a diploma but she could cook hamburgers. It was hard to get jobs during the war she said if you were of German descent. In 1945 she met our Dad, John Landeen, at a dance and they were married June 23rd, 1945. Together they welcomed two children into the world, a son, Jerry and a daughter, Valerie. As children, we remember many picnics with family friends and relatives, skating at Bowness Park and Chestermere Lake, playing many board games and cards, always music and sing-songs, holidays camping in Canada and the US, special times shared with relatives at their farms in Didsbury, Olds and Gull Lake. In their Golden Years, Mom & Dad settled in the community of Canyon Meadows. They shared a successful marriage filled with love & laughter. I’m sure there were tough times but they would work through things together. Mom would wash the dishes, Dad would dry. Dad would turn the stereo on at home and they would dance in the living room by themselves. They loved Stampede Week where they attended the outdoor breakfasts, singing & square dancing in the streets. They sang in a choir entertaining people in hospitals and nursing homes. Mom loved to sing and play the Ukulele – those of you who knew Eva knew she didn’t possess the voice of an angel, but certainly the soul of one. It didn’t matter that she couldn’t sing, she sang anyway and this alone, made you want to listen. Mom & Dad belonged to the Legion. They did a lot of extensive travelling throughout various parts of the world. The welcome mat was always open for friends & family who stopped by their home & there always would be some special goodies made by Mom. Mom made our house the home that it was and it truly was a gathering place for all our friends & family. This was a testament to how they lived a life of equality, balance, understanding & togetherness. Mom will be remembered for her kindness, compassion & caring of others, her self-less-ness, her great sense of humour, her immense love for family & friends, her joy of baking, fabulous cooking & canning – the best “steak relish” around. She was a very active lady who liked to keep busy. Mom believed in daily exercise – her motto was “if you don’t use it, you will lose it”. She did volunteer work. If someone needed help – she was there for them. When we left home – she went to work at the Four Seasons Hotel downtown. In her forties, she learned to drive and took swimming lessons. She loved watching the Calgary Flames, the World Series (The Blue Jays were her favorite) and Curling – she was a huge sports fan. “A Meaningful Life” It’s not about being rich, being popular, being highly educated or being perfect It’s about being real, being humble being able to share ourselves and touch the lives of others It is only then that we could have a full, happy and contented life. In January of 2005, our Dad passed away which left a huge void in Mom’s life. She remained in their family home which she loved for a couple more years until a fall which prevented her from living alone any more and eventually had to move. She seldom complained – Mom was a woman of great strength and determination. We feel so proud to be of her heritage. “Thank you for the life you’ve given me. For sharing all your love and all your dreams.” Eva is survived by her son Jerry & grandson Fraser, her daughter, Valerie Anderson (Rick) & grandson Jeff (Liz) and granddaughter Jennifer Jalink (Reynoudt) and two precious great granddaughters, Riley & Brooklyn Jalink, her two loving brothers Len (Laureen), Cliff (Maureen) her very dear sister Barbara and her dear sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Ethel & Jack Bowerman. Mom was predeceased by our Dad, John, her Mother Florence & Father Andrew, two brothers, Paul & Phil, sister Irene and brother-in-law Carl Colledge. She leaves behind many wonderful cousins, nieces & nephews & special friends. As per Mom’s request, there will be no service. Our family can’t thank the incredible staff enough at Father Lacombe who went above & beyond in their care & kindness given to our Mom. Bless you all! If you wish, you may make a donation to Father Lacombe Care Centre in Mom’s honor or to a charity of your choice. RIP dear Mom- you are “our Sunshine”! A MOTHER IS A LIVING PRESENCE The young mother set her foot on the path of life. “Is this the long way?” she asked. And the guide said “Yes, and the way is hard, and you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning.” But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, she fed them and bathed them, taught them how to tie their shoes and ride a bike, and reminded them to feed the dog and do their homework and brush their teeth. The sun shone on them and the young Mother cried, “Nothing will ever be lovelier than this.” Then the nights came and the storms and the path was sometimes dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her arms and the children said, “Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come.” And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary. But at all times she said to the children, a little patience and we are there.” So the children climbed and as they climbed they learned to weather the storms. And the mother, when she lay down at night looked up at the stars and said, “This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of hardness. Yesterday I gave them courage. Today, I have given them strength” Year after year she showed them compassion, understanding & hope but most of all~unconditional love. And when they reached the top they said, “Mother, we could not have done it without you.” The days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old and she became little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. And the mother, when she lay down at night looked up at the stars and said, “This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned so much and are now passing these traits on to their children.” And when the way became rough for her, they lifted her, and gave her their strength, just as she had given them hers. One day they came to a hill, and beyond the hill they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And Mother said: “I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk with dignity and pride, with their heads held high, and so can their children after them.” And the children said, “You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates.” And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said: “We cannot see her, but she is with us still.” A Mother is more than a memory. She is a living presence. Your Mother is always with you. She’s the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street ~ she’s the smell of certain foods you remember, flowers you pick and perfume that she wore ~ she’s the smell of bleach in your freshly laundered clothes, ~she’s the cool hand on your brow when you’re not feeling well, she’s your breath in the air on a cold winters day. She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep, the colors of a rainbow, she is your birthday morning. Your Mother lives inside your laughter. And she’s crystallized in every tear drop. A mother shows every emotion……..happiness, sadness, fear, jealousy, love, hate, anger, helplessness, excitement, joy, sorrow….. and all the while hoping and praying you will only know the good feelings in life. She’s the place you came from, your first home, and she’s the map you follow with every step you take. She’s your first love & your first friend and nothing on earth can separate you. Not time, not space…….not even death!