Obituary of Olive Irene Bailey

BAILEY: Olive passed away January 16, 2019 at 100 years of age at Rideau Park Personal Care Home surrounded by her children, which was just the way she wanted it. She is survived by her three children, daughter Sharon Smith and husband Jack Lazareck of Winnipeg, sons Ross Bailey and wife Pat and Wilson Bailey and wife Kathy Brigden of Brandon. Olive is also survived by her eight loving grandchildren and seven great grandchildren: Melissa (James), Ethan and Melania Nakonechny; Jennifer (Jochebed); Jason (Flora); Eric (Lisa), Matthew and John; Kylie; Kara (Richard), Ryan, Michael and Alana Mah; Erin (Eddie) Penno; Anna (Jeremy) Penno and one brother, Russell Wilson of Yorkton, Saskatchewan. She was predeceased by her husband Bill (William) Bailey in 1985. Olive was born on her family farm near Yorkton, Saskatchewan. The lake on the farm was officially named Wilson Lake for her family. She fondly remembers skating on the lake and the raucous excitement of her uncle with his hounds chasing the foxes across the ice on the lake in winter. As the oldest, she drove "pony" and the buggy taking her sister and bothers to school each day. She hated milking the cows for fear of being kicked or hit by their tail, so she made a deal with her Mother that she would do all the cooking to get out of the milking. Following school, she worked in Yorkton at Henry Beck's dry goods. She met Bill who lived in Yorkton, however, during this time Bill was drafted to WW II. Since he was going overseas, he did not want to marry fearing he would return an invalid or not return. Upon his safe return Olive married Bill on March 17, 1946. Their three children were born in Yorkton. In 1953, the family moved and settled in Brandon, where Bill and a partner bought Victoria Motors. With Brandon as their home the family enjoyed many fabulous times at their cottage at Sunnyside Beach on Pelican Lake. Olive loved to lay in the sun and Bill was always working. Frequently, she would hear "Olive hold that board for me." This was often not a welcome request, as the lake for her was supposed to be relaxation and for Bill relaxation was work! Once the children were older Olive began to wonder what she would do when they were gone, so she decided she better get a job. It was daunting, as she had been out of the labour force so long. Olive was strong, she gathered her courage and successfully got that job, at Eaton's in ladies wear. She really enjoyed the ladies wear and spent many years there. After Bill's passing life became very difficult in the family home. At the children's insistence she moved into Lions Manor, as a "day-oner," when the building opened. It was a very difficult transition, but if you ever asked her later, she told you the most enjoyable years of her life were the 25 years she lived at Lions Manor. It was a family at Lions. They watched over each other, had coffee every weekday together and visited those in hospital, which Olive took on for a period of time. She sang in the choir, played in the band, also played in the tea pot group and loved performing in the community. The grandchildren were amazed by her performance. An avid card player she played whist, 500, Saskatchewan Rummy and bridge. But her favourite card game was cribbage. Wilson regularly took her on. At 99, she regularly and legitimately beat him! Unfortunately, her vision deteriorated so much she could no longer play, but her mind remained razor sharp till the end. When you live to be over a hundred you have been through a lot of change. When Olive was asked what the biggest change was, she said it was when her Dad brought home the Cat's Whisker on the farm. It was a set with earphones that had an antenna like a cat's whisker. She said they could not believe you could hear voices over it. None of them could bear to wait to have their turn to hear what was going to be said. They thought it was just a miracle! Rideau Staff said, "She was the most loved Mother in Rideau Park." Her children made sure of that - Ross who was there almost every day, Wilson playing cards and Sharon with her phone calls daily or several times a day either from Winnipeg or Phoenix. She truly was the most loved, most amazing 100-year-old Mother, grandmother and great grandmother. The family's appreciation goes to Rideau Staff, especially Nicole Keeler and Nicole Beaudoin. Thanks to Rev. Dr. Glenn Ball for his visits and prayers. There will be a private funeral service. A celebration of life will be held at a future date in the spring. Those who so choose may make a contribution in Olive's memory to St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 361 Russell Street, Brandon, MB, R7A 5H6 or BRHC Foundation for the Centre for Geriatric Psychiatry, 150 McTavish Ave E., Brandon, MB, R7A 2B3.