ELSIE MARIA THOMAS (KETOLA, KNOX)

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

ELSIE MARIA THOMAS (KETOLA, KNOX) It is with great sadness that we say good-bye to our beloved Mother, Grandmother, Auntie and Friend, Elsie Maria Thomas (Ketola, Knox). After a long hard fight she went to join the angels on Thursday, August 5, 2004, with her daughter at her side. Elsie was predeceased by her father Vaino Ilmarri Ketola, her brother Elmer (Coke) Ketola, her mother Lempi (Lepisto) Ketola, her husband Dave Knox and her brother Kino Ketola. She is survived by her son Dave also known as Randy Knox of B.C., daughter Lisa (Knox) Bittner (Eric) of Winnipeg, granddaughter Serena Bittner and grandson Nelson Bittner, both of Winnipeg, sisters-in-law, Violet (Don) Fraser and Carrie Ketola of Manitoba and half sister Lillian Ketola of B.C. She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews and friends that meant a great deal to her. Elsie was born in Pointe du Bois, MB on October 6, 1927. She attended grade 12 in Teulon, MB. Graduated from teachers college and taught school in Milner Ridge. She attended business school, became a legal secretary and worked for the law firm of Mitchell Greene and Minuk, Montreal Trust, and then the Canadian Grain Commission until she retired in 1988. She was married in 1949 to Dave Knox and stuck with him in good times and bad until his death in 1986. She married in 1988 to Alf Thomas of Alberta. They enjoyed travelling the U.S. in the winters to ease her arthritis and even had a mobile home in Yuma, Arizona for a while. They moved to Lethbridge where she lived until her health forced her to return to Winnipeg in January 2003. She was able to spend 11 months in 2003 with her two grandchildren, the angels in her heart. In spite of her pain, she was able to enjoy planting flowers, picking chokecherries, making jelly and fishing. Mom loved to read, do both crossword and jigsaw puzzles and play crib. She had a passion for gardening and loved flowers and enjoyed travel and shopping. Most of all Mom loved us! She especially loved her two grandchildren. She has gone to heaven to be their guardian angel now and we will all miss her. Services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 11 at Glen Lawn Funeral Home, 455 Lagimodiere Blvd. (south of the Royal Canadian Mint). Pallbearers will be six of her loving nephews, Kenny Ketola, Rod Ketola, David Ketola, Garth Hodge, Kevin Knox and Todd Knox. Interment will follow on site and then a gathering of family and friends will take place in the reception centre. Glen Lawn is located on a city bus route. Special thanks to the staff of Kildonan Personal Care Home, Leona Knox, Violet Fraser, Ruth Bittner, Patti Graham and our friends and family for their support this year. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Arthritis Society or the Salvation Army. Family and friends are invited to sign the Book of Condolences, www.obitbulkloaduariestoday.com Arrangements entrusted to: GLEN LAWN FUNERAL HOME 455 LAGIMODIERE BLVD. 982-7550

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 09, 2004