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Residents
share memories of Christmas-past
By Sheri Fiegehen
From family and friends, to food and fun, Christmas is a season of warmth,
love and tradition. It’s also a season for sharing memories and making
new ones. In honour of the season, OMNIway went on a quest to find out residents’
fond memories of Christmas-past.
For Jean Lord, a resident at Burnbrae Gardens in Campbellford, the festive
season was all about making Christmas special for children in need. Starting
in the late 1960s, every Christmas for years and years, she, her husband
Geoffrey and their six children hosted a Christmas party for dozens of underpriviledged
children.
“A big bus load” of children from Dixon Hall in Toronto would
arrive at the family’s Trent Hills farm in the morning. The house
would be all decked out in festive decorations, including a brightly-lit
Christmas tree, says Jean.
“We just wanted to do something special for them. It made them so
happy. They were just like one of the family,” recalls Jean.
The children and the family played games out in the snow and inside the
house, ate festive goodies, and overall had a jolly good time. Everyone
got in on the fun, including the family’s two dogs.
“We had a collie and a spaniel – they joined in the games, too.”
The goodwill extended beyond the immediate family, as Jean’s husband’s
co-workers would also drop by to spread some Christmas cheer. “About
four or five of them would come with candy and give it out to the kids,”
Jean says.
Also, each child was given a small Christmas gift. “I can’t
remember off the top of my head (what I gave them), but it was always something
small and useful,” says Jean.
Eventually, the Christmas party tradition became a thing of the past, but
a number of the children maintained contact with the family. “We kept
in touch with some of them for a long time. They’ve all drifted now,
and I’m sorry about that. They’re all grown up now with their
own families. I’m sure they are having nice Christmases with them,
now.” |
| In an effort to bring
you independent news about the OMNI community, this
story was prepared by a third party news provider,
Axiom
News Services. It has not been subject
to prior editorial approval by OMNI Health Care. |
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Lina Shewman of Maplewood: Everyone in her
family enjoyed her special Christmas pudding. She always made it with
the assistance of her nephew, who stood behind her, asking her what she
was putting in it.
Marion Turner of Maplewood: She recalls a
lot of long Christmas Eves wrapping presents for her children after they
had gone to bed.
Mary Dale of Maplewood: She remembers always
having a big supper meal with the whole family, followed up by a big sleep.
All that food makes you tired, she recalls.
Ruth McLaren of Maplewood: Visitors to her
home got a nice treat. Inside her front door, she had eggnog and hot toddies
ready for Christmas Day well-wishers. Many times, people who stopped by
who didn’t have family or friends were invited in to join the McLarens
for Christmas dinner.
Gerda Schlattner of Maplewood: Family time
is what she remembers most fondly. A bell was rung to let the children
know Santa had arrived and left them gifts. Then all together, the family
sang Silent Night, followed by the opening of gifts.
Mabel Spear of Streamway Villa: The family
would get together, put on Christmas music, and wrap the Christmas gifts
and decorate the tree – all the while snacking on finger foods and
drinking hot chocolate and rum and eggnog.
Evelyn Labelle of Streamway Villa: The family
would all go to church together and spend a lot of time visiting family
and friends over the holidays.
Olive Bridge of Streamway Villa: She remembers
her mother doing a lot of baking, such as small donuts with icing, raisin
bread and Christmas cake. The baking would be for the family and for neighbours.
The family would also go carolling in the neighbourhood.
Gertrude Curtis of Streamway Villa: She and
her family would all go together to get a Christmas tree. The children
would decorate the tree and make gingerbread houses, she recalls.
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