Meikle & Poulin Families

HOMEPAGE Family News & Notes Family Pictures Meikle Tree Poulin Tree Family Page

Reine Marie ( Irene Helen ) Meikle May 27, 1920 ~ October 20, 2010 (90 years young!)

NOTE: I will be adding more information to this page and I encourage friends and family members to send me their thoughts and memories so that I may include them below. You can e-mail me at: patrickmeikle[at]gmail.com - for previous information on mother's 2001 hospitalization, click here.

Mother passed away on Saturday, October 30, 2010. She had been active almost to the end. I called her usually twice a day, afternoon and a goodnight call as we were retiring for the day. I had called her on Wednesday night and on the previous Tuesday she had taken part with other residents in visiting the local bishop. On Thursday morning I received a call from Rusty Ashworth (Cousin Diane's husband) telling us that mom had been taken in to Vancouver General Hospital and that she was not doing very well. We waited for further news... Friday morning mom has rallied and looked much better than the day before. Saturday morning came the news that her condition had worsened and we had to prepare... I received a call about 7:00 p.m. Ottawa time, thinking it was the end, when cousin Diane at the other end said that mother had come out of a delirious and wanted to talk to me. She put her cell phone on "speaker" and mother spoke to James and me. Her voice was very weak and it appeared from her speech that she had had a stroke. After our conversation, Diane called mom's sister, Jeanette Tiede (in Medicine Hat, Alberta). Mom spoke to Aunt Jan, said "I'm happy" and shortly thereafter passed away. What a final gift, being able to speak to mother. Back to top

I flew out to Vancouver with son Shawn, where I made arrangements with the funeral home, and where we participated in a wonderful memorial and celebration of life at Holy Family Hospital, where mother had lived for the past nine years. (This was one of the photos that we displayed. We will share more pictures later and possibly some audio.) I have only praise and heartfelt thanks to: Cousin Diane and family (Rusty, Shaun, Cory, Jordi and Jay) for looking after mom's needs for so many years in Vancouver, while I looked on from a distance in Ottawa and especially for being with mom for her final moments. For Diane for taking the immense time to clear and sort out mother's effects and to the Ashworth clan for helping to organize part of the memorial service. The Meikle and Poulin family members who have been so close over our lifetimes, especially for my Godmother, Aunt Jan Tiede. Cecilia Moore, pastoral care worker at Holy Family, for giving mom spiritual guidance and engaging her in so many activities. The Holy Family "family" for caring for mom over the years and for helping her to have such an active and rich life. There are so many of you that I cannot list you all... apologies. Hersy Yu for putting together a wonderful slide presentation for the memorial service. I can send it to anyone who wants to see it in Powerpoint. Mother's many friends both from Holy Family, Richmond, B.C. and elsewhere, who have been there for us over the years. My apologies if I have forgotten anyone... please let me know if I have!

Prior to traveling to Vancouver I spent several hours researching the Internet, looking for some Poulin ancestry. Because of some British Columbia statistical regulation, the funeral home required the birth places of mother's parents, Phydime and Aline Poulin. What a journey into the past that was. I managed to find the information through Internet searching. I have posted some of the Poulin research material along with a few pictures of mom. Click here to see it. (Apologies for the typos... I put these up rather quickly.)

I have now archived the previous updates and put them on a separate Web page. More.... Back to top

(Please advise me of any errors or omissions.)

HOMEPAGE Family News & Notes Family Pictures Meikle Tree Poulin Tree Family Page

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