EMILY H. CRONE (ERICKSON)

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EMILY H. CRONE (nee ERICKSON) On Saturday, November 22, 2014, just days before her 93rd birthday, our Mom, Amma, sister and aunt, Emily Herdis Crone, gently passed away at Victoria General Hospital with her family by her bedside. Born in Arborg, Manitoba on November 26, 1921 to Ingi and Disa Erickson, Emily was a big sister to Ingi (Eric) (died 1944), Esther (died 1978), and Helga. Following her early education in Arborg, she moved to Winnipeg and studied at Success Business College, after which she worked for Trans Canada Airlines (now Air Canada). It was here, through Emily's colleague "Scotty" Sinclair that she was introduced to James Arthur Crone from Elmwood in Winnipeg - with whom she communicated throughout the Second World War while he served with The Royal Canadian Navy in such dangerous engagements as the North Atlantic/ Murmansk run, and D-Day. After the war, they were married on July 27, 1946. Emily and Jim (died 1998) had three sons: Eric (Jacquie), Richard (Kathy Sawchuk) and James (Karyn), and a daughter Janet who passed away in infancy. Emily is also survived by her grandsons Michael in Alberta, Andrew in British Columbia, Sam in Winnipeg, Noah Sawchuk in British Columbia and by her dear sister Helga Boyd (Ronald) in Calgary. She is still remembered as "The Matriarch" by many of her numerous nieces and nephews in Manitoba, Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, California, Minnesota and beyond. Em and Jim enjoyed a large' life together in Winnipeg, raising their boys and traveling with them throughout Canada, the United States, Great Britain and, in keeping with her proud heritage - Iceland. Mom loved crowded holiday, birthday and other important celebrations with Jim's large extended family in Winnipeg or with her sisters and their families in West Winnipeg or Arborg. The more the merrier! When her boys were all in school, Mom, always the keen mathematician, returned to work at the City of Winnipeg Tax Department. In later years, Em and Jim continued to travel with their many friends, and finally, in 1987, sold the family home on Lodge Avenue in Silver Heights and retired to Victoria, BC, where they made many new friends and reconnected with the West Coast Crones. Mom continued to enjoy her active life in Victoria for seven years after dad passed in 1998 but when the house became too much to manage, she returned to Winnipeg to be near the kids'. She lived at the Wellington Retirement Residence until 2012 when poor health necessitated a further move to the Rosewood Assisted Living Residence. Mom was a constant in her family's life; always encouraging, with unwavering optimism, and beaming with pride. Her contagious smile and helping hand will be remembered by all who knew her. Although her passing is a sad occasion, she had a life well lived. The family would like to thank the staff of The Rosewood and especially Tammy, Gemma, Mary-Lyn and Alma of Fernwood House for their attentive care as Mom's health declined. We would also like to thank the doctors, nurses and orderlies at the Victoria General Hospital for their professionalism, care and kindness, with a special thanks to the Manager of Patient Experience, Joanne van Dyck. A family memorial will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, and should you wish, donations can be made to the charity of your choice. Wojcik's Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, 2157 Portage Avenue, 204.897.4665, is in care of arrangements. wojciksfuneralchapel.com In one of the stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing. And so it will be as if all the stars were laughing When you loo at the stars at night. -Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (The Little Prince)

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 29, 2014