I would like to share some wonderful memories that I have of my older sister, Gloria, while we were children growing up in small communities in Bjorkdale and Pleasant Valley (Lipsett) near Melfort, Saskatchewan. Being her younger brother of 3+ years I always felt like she was my big sister and looked out for me. I recall the day she was high jumping in the schoolground across the street from where we lived then (Bjorkdale) and broke her elbow. She was about 8 years old then, very athletic and tough as well so had a quick recovery after having treatment at the hospital in Saskatoon. Gloria was very good at all sports when we attended a one room school for children from grades 1 to 8 near Pleasant Valley. She was particularly good at softball, often hitting the ball way out into the field. We used to ride our bikes for 1 mile together in the summer to get to school. Gloria loved to read comic books in the back seat of our 1958 Ford while my younger sister Diane and myself looked out the window and chattered as we went on our many weekend picnics to area lakes with mom and dad. We were a close family. Dad (Mike Comaniuk) was a second world war vet and married my mother, Anna Tiesjema, on Jan. 9, 1946 in Amsterdam after Canadian Troops liberated Holland from German occupation during the second World war. They settled in Saskatchewan and started their family and the rest is history. Gloria, their first born, arrived on Jul. 15th, 1947 in St. Walburg, Sask. With dad working for the CNR at the time, we moved around to various small communities and adjusted to that lifestyle as children growing up together. In those days children left home at early ages so when Gloria got married at age 19, my younger sister and I were still quite young. As adults we kept up our family bonds and traditions by getting together on special occasions and by going on camping vacations. Of particular note were the summers we spent together, as families, at Lac Des Isles (Sask.), boating, fishing, and campfires with the Eldridge (Gloria and Bob), Comaniuk (Pam and Ed) and Shuttleworth (Diane and Terry) clans - what a hoot it was! Then, more recently, there were the week long vacations that we took together in Kimberley, B.C. Gloria was the best at the game we often played called 31. Gloria, you were always a warm, caring, and loving person and I am so proud to have been your brother. We will always remember the good times and will miss you dearly. Your loving brother, Ed.
