Obituary of Blanche Isabel Guay

For those of us grandchildren, and even more so, the great grandchildren, it is difficult to comprehend how much the world changed in Grandma Blanche's 91 years. We will do our best to pay tribute to what was a long and full life! Blanche, has always been Gram to most of the family so this is how we will mainly refer to her today. Several of us have chosen to wear pink today in honour of Gram's "signature color." She LOVED pink as was obvious from the color of her last house, her Christmas tree, her china, her rocking chair and most of her wardrobe through the 80's and 90's. Ok, so here we go, 91 years the Readers Digest version! Blanche Isabel Moore was born to Robert "Dinty" and Agnes Moore in 1925, the 4th daughter in what would become 9 children! Grandma said, "Mom would just get one of us off to school and another would fill that space at home!" At the age of 4, her dad bid on land in the great Peace country and bundled 6 kids, a cat, and a canary into a borrowed Model T and landed in Gundy. As a family they began to build their home on the Tupper Creek - 10 miles from the nearest store. Her early years were spent in school and church and filled with music. Community dances and playing the violin with sister Rhoda were among her favorite times. Although the arrival of sister Betty unfortunately sent Blanche and Rhoda outdoors to practice the violin! Gram claims this was to help Betty sleep.although we wonder if it was maybe a testament to the quality of the music being played! The long winters were spent on homemade toboggans, hand whittled skis and farming chores which always took longer in the cold and snow. The weather made trips to school, church and the store challenging. Grandma talked about having to pack their lunches smartly otherwise they would be frozen before they arrived at school. Her brothers played guitar and they often entertained themselves with music and practicing for the school Christmas concerts. Horses were a huge part of her family growing up, although Grandma claimed she never really saw what all the fuss was about as she just remembered blisters from riding their old horse to school. In 1940, Grandma travelled to Tupper to attend school for her high school years and later into Dawson Creek where she would finish high school while working at a bakery serving the American soldiers here building the Alaska Highway. Maybe this explains why she made THE BEST BUNS in the world! She started practicing early! Upon completion of her high school diploma, Grandma said she and Rhonda were recruited to teach, simply because they were available and willing to travel up the Alaska Highway; although for anyone who spent time with her, or was fortunate enough to be taught BY her would surely argue she was BORN to be a teacher. So in 1942 her career as a teacher began at Parkland - 16 miles UP the Alaska Highway! She would continue to teach in the area, over the next few years, moving to the South Dawson School in 1944. Her and Rhoda continued their own education with summer school and eventually were given the opportunity to travel to Victoria where Grandma tells an embarrassing story of being in the "BIG" City and being offered a "Coke". Says she had no idea how to respond as she didn't know if you ate it, smoked it or wore it! Grandma would often shake her head at "teachers today" especially during a strike and would say, "in my day, you taught all day, fed them lunch and had to chop wood throughout to keep the fire going.what do THEY have to complain about!" Although Gram would spin tales about "in my day", she was hard working and dedicated to teaching and absolutely loved it, rarely complaining. In fact one of her co-workers, Mona Mclean, wrote this lovely poem about her: Tis easy enough to be pleasant when life flows along like a song. But the gal worthwhile was you, who could smile when everything went dead wrong! In 1945 she married Edmund Guay, a hometown boy from Rolla. They would quickly have Art, followed by Ken and make the move out to the farm owned by Edmunds family. Dudley arrived in 1949 to claim the role as the youngest for a time! During these years with the boys at home on the farm, the winters were long and at times they would be snowed in for months. So, in 1951 they moved to Blueberry and Edmund began mechanic work. By 1957 their family would be complete with 4th son Don. These 4 boys would go on to bring her great joy, lots of laughter, grey hairs, sleepless nights, many a head shake and countless "Oh really!" She cooked, baked, scolded, hmpff'd and shook her finger at them more times than anyone could count. It was always very important to Gram that they be "clean and neat" with polished shoes and freshly ironed shirts. She would hassle them regularly about showering, especially Dudley who apparently didn't like to shower! Art remembers Grandma would stay up as late as necessary to ensure everything was ironed. Her boys can confirm that even far into their adult years she could be heard commenting on their clothes and telling them to "Get a haircut!" Her sons, and later her grandsons, were often on the receiving end of "tough love" Grandma! A necessary tool I imagine when raising 4 boys! Sister Rhonda went to teach at the Open Door School in Dawson Creek and Grandma soon became involved as a volunteer even sitting as President of the Board . The Open Door School was one of the first schools designated to students with special needs. Gram was extremely proud of this work and spoke of it often. Blanche and Edmund moved the boys into Dawson Creek in 1959 to allow Art to attend grade 7. They would live in a few different homes before eventually settling on the edge of town in Chilton Subdivision where Edmund could have his shop, Blanche could have her gardens and green house, and the dining room was large enough to hold the entire family! The stories and memories surrounding this home are far too many to share here today but it was full of laughter, often a barking dog, wrestling boys and little girls playing dress up! There was ALWAYS something cooking and music playing in the background often Gram herself on the organ. Through these years she continued to play the violin and the organ, she kept gardens, stayed involved with her LARGE extended family, did needlepoint, knitted and crocheted, and went dancing when she and Edmund could find time which I can't imagine was often given this busy time in their lives. She was an active member of Beta Sigma Phi right through until recent years when all that remained of her chapter were her and good friends Fern Erickson and Gladys Beerling. However, there appears to be a vow of silence amongst sorority sisters as no one is talking about what went on during those years but we know Gram greatly enjoyed the friends she made and all the fun they had. By 1966 her own boys began graduating and getting married and in 1967 Art made her a grandma for the first time when Robbie arrived, followed closely by Dennis and then a sister for Robbie, Nicole. The weddings and births within the family continued at an alarming rate and would yield her a total of 4 weddings and 8 grandchildren. We won't even comment on the nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews as your head would spin! So much so that in 1976 Grandma set out to write the Moore family history and family tree to help us all keep it straight! She was always tickled when the nieces would pop by to visit, loved going out to see Roy play when he was in town, and of course wanted Judi here today to play! Although she continued to work full time and raise Don who was still at home, she always found time to have the grandkids over and take them out and about. Many of us remember while being out with Grandma she would have you by the back of the head or the neck as she steered you around and kept you under control! Cousin Jayme seems to remember this most vividly which may be because he is youngeror possibly because he was harder to control! Nicky shares a story that grandma told her again and again of taking Nic into the Hudson Bay shopping when she was about 2 and Nicky asking Gram at the till, very loudly, if she was wearing a wig! Grandma was of course completely mortified as she prided herself on her wonderful thick head of hair! Grandma never left the house without looking her best; she loved clothes and was always a complete fashionista. Her jewelry and accessory collection remains unparalleled! Even in the past few years she still loved her shopping trips with Wendy or in Kelowna with Nicky and not long ago showing off a pair of new shoes to Judy Sterr covered in pink flowers and asking for her opinion! In 1969, Blanche was hired on at Northern Lights College as their Vocational Instructor and would spend the next and final 16 years of her formal teaching career with the college. She eventually became one of the counsellors as well as continuing to teach. She adored her time at the college and the friends she made there. She would retire in 1985 leaving behind a formidable career in teaching and many students and co-workers the better for it. Her retirement scrapbook, which she kept all these years, is a testament to the impact she had at the College as it was filled with cards, memories, photos and poems. She was seen as a caring and supportive co-worker, eager to help and lots of fun! Unfortunately, retirement did not start as Blanche had planned, as Edmund passed away in 1986 after a long battle with cancer. Soon after, Blanche gave up the big house in Chilton Sub and moved into town, into what would become known as the "pink house!" She began this new phase of her life the same way she did most everything else with grace, incredible strength, a witty sense of humor and probably more than one cigarette! Although even those took a hike too not long after retiring! She loved to travel and spent a lot of her retirement years exploring. Cruises, bus tours, Vegas weddings, Cross Canada treks, and tropical islands! She travelled to Florida when good friend and Sorority Sister, Laverne Radke, was to be married, with the third musketeer Shirley Ravelli in tow. Their bridesmaid's dresses were a fairly LOUD pattern of pink, offensive to some, but pleased Gram greatly as pink was her signature color; however, it was the "god awful hat" she couldn't stop talking about! She and Shirley had many a joke at poor Laverne's expense as to how they could find creative ways to lose the hat prior to the wedding, the favorite idea being to feed it to a crocodile upon arrival! Blanche and Shirley's friendship is one that stood the test of time. Meeting in grade school out in Gundy and lasting through school years, marriage, children, retirement, widowhood, and into their final years together. They bickered like an old married couple, spoke in short coded sentences and were two of the best dressed women you would ever see! Grandma jealous of Shirley's "bird legs" and Shirley of grandma's head of hair! The stories of the trouble they found together, the jokes they played and the incredible adventures could fill a book. What a treasure to have gone through life with such a friend. Shirley was only one of many treasured friends in Gram's life. Friends were very important to her and she was rarely seen anywhere alone. We couldn't begin to name all of the special ones in her life some who have gone before and some who remain today to miss her. Gram and Shirley regularly attended the seniors dances together, the next day gossiping about all the old men and who had danced with whom! Similar to their teen years I would assume! My favorite was overhearing one such conversation in which Shirley said to Gram, "Well I heard SHE is bringing him casseroles EVERY week! To which Grandma replied, "Hmpff, well doesn't surprise me!" I have often wondered if "casseroles" was code for something else! Grandma would tell you she wasn't a gossip, in fact would quite adamantly deny being a gossip so, with that being true, WE all learned from Gram that as long as you say, "Well it's NONE of MY business" before giving your opinion on other people's business, then it must not be gossiping. However, it was at one of these dances Grandma began dancing regularly, and possibly providing casseroles, to the quiet and kind Paul Jeannotte. They spent several years together traveling, visiting and entertaining their equally large families and never missing a dance at the hall! During retirement, Grandma immersed herself in Time Out for Seniors Art classes and discovered an incredible talent and passion for painting and the arts. She tried many areas, including pottery and mixed medium, and her famous garbage cans but loved watercolors the most. She spent nearly 20 years active in the Art Culture, rarely missing an Art Auction or an opening at the Gallery and later joining the Exploring Art Group. She filled in as instructor on occasion and filled many of our walls with her incredible pieces. Granddaughter Liz said as a kid she would put Gram's paintings in her room and was so proud because she thought her grandma must be SO famous! Granddaughter Kirsten's most treasured gift from Grandma was a figure skating painting for her 15 birthday and years later when Wendy opened a Notary practice and filled the office with Grandmas painting, the ever humble and self-critical Blanche exclaimed, "Oh for heaven's sake, who is going to want to look at THOSE terrible things all day!" As if that wasn't enough, she also worked with the Dawson Creek Beautification Committee to improve City Gardens, which included coffee and lunches and in depth discussions at Hug A Mug, she volunteered for the Winter Games in 1999, drank coffee at the CO-OP with her "group", served lunch to the "Seniors" every Monday after completing her Tai Chi Class where she proudly boasted that, Peter Haapala couldn't keep up with her. She was always busy! We could not pay tribute to Grandma Blanche without talking about food; in fact she is probably horrified I have made you sit here this long without providing a snack! She became known to many of us as the "hovering chef"; she would move from pot to pan to stove and back again all day with the ease of a professional - apron on, and always a wooden spoon in hand, never missing a word of the ongoing conversation! When mealtime came the table would be covered with bowls and platters heaping full but SHE would never sit. The boys offered chairs, "here mom sit," the grandkids "come on grandma, sit with us" but always to no avail. She would claim to have picked away all day while she cooked and wasn't hungrybut really she just wanted to hover, "did you get some buns?" "is the gravy hot enough?" She would stand with her hand on the shoulder of the son or grandson at the end of the table surveying the scene, analyzing what could possibly be missing! By the time she reached her 70's she would, on occasion, perch on the end of the organ bench but that is as close as she would get! She loved company and loved to feed them all! Neighbors, friends, family, didn't matter. The coffee was always on and she would insist on "getting you a little something." Granddaughter Liz shared this week that she will never eat a raspberry thumbprint cookie without thinking of Grandma. For me, Yorkshire puddings and lemon meringue pie are forever ruined as none could compare and for my Mom it was the pork pies she would deliver to the Notary Office when she thought Mom wasn't stopping to eat. She was constantly checking that everyone was fed! Although I believe there may have been a slight favoritism to the boys in her life! None of them could help her or visit her without food being provided or sent home! If you couldn't make it to dinner, she would make you a "plate!" One particular night we had all gathered and as we began to clear the plates Grandma announced that Donny couldn't make it so she needed to send him a plate. As she was putting it together she pulled buns for him from the freezer instead of the ones on the table, we were then told that she had forgotten to put salt in THOSE buns but she wanted Don to have the "good" ones! Apparently the rest of us didn't rate the salted buns! Grandma used to tell Nicky she would put supper in the crockpot before going to work and would come home after work to discover that it was already gone because there was so many coming and going from her house! The door was always open and the kids and grandkids alike would rotate through! The passing years brought about a total of 8 Grandchildren - Rob, Nicky, Jayme, Dennis, Kirsten, Deanna, Elizabeth and Brett, 2 extra Grandkids in her heart Dina and Scott. There would be skating carnivals, plays, dance recitals, hot rod cars, model airplanes, horses, Christmas concerts, graduations and weddings and eventually a whopping 14 great grandchildren. Gram was there when you asked, or when you needed her. Rob said this week when thinking about Grandma he remembers how she just did what needed to be done. Things weren't always perfect but she would step up and support her family and love them all regardless of the good or bad. Except when it came to the Great-grandchildren because there was no bad, they were all apparently perfect and talented and brilliant and required nothing but treats and love! She was always pleased when we called, or sent pictures of our kids or their homemade crafts. She bragged about them all and couldn't have been prouder. Gram rarely looked or acted her age. She was independent and strong but as 90 neared her memory would fail her at times. So when Rob and Nick wanted her to come down to Kelowna to visit they wanted to be sure she was comfortable making the trek on her own as it meant having to change planes in Vancouver. According to Grandma, Rob and Art spoke to her several times on how she would need to do this and sought assurance from her that this would be fine. Her remark being, "Oh for heaven's sake you would think I had never left town before!" She was : a fun and supportive sister, a hardworking, wooden spoon wielding wife, a tough love giving, got your back mom, a dedicated well-travelled teacher, a make you laugh-lets have some fun-committed friend, a witty, good humored Aunty, an impeccably well dressed-fully accessorized classy lady, a music loving artist extraordinaire with killer dancing shoes and the warmest most loving mother, Gram and Great-grandma anyone could ask for. We would like to close by sharing a poem given to Gram at her time of retirement from a co-worker and friend Jane Hogg. It not only speaks to the kind of teacher and co-worker she was, but to how she lived her life. You may not realize that everything you do Affects not only your life but touches others, too - Your single happy smile can always brighten up the day For anyone who happens to pass your way. Your little bit of thoughtfulness that shows someone you care Creates a ray of sunshine for both of you to share- Yes, every time you offer someone a helping hand, Every time you show a friend you care and understand, Every time you have a kind and gentle word to give, You help someone find beauty in this precious life we live. I've looked to you so many times To see your happy smile, I've come to you for company To talk a little while I've laughed with you And shared with you A few special things- I've learned from you the precious joys That only your caring brings. Service 11:00 am Friday, September 9, 2016 Senior Citizens Hall 1101 McKellar Ave DAWSON CREEK, British Columbia, Canada V1G 2S2 Interment Dawson Creek City Cemetery 1900 Alaska Avenue DAWSON CREEK, British Columbia, Canada