Agnes NEILSON

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NEILSON: Agnes. With great sadness we wish to inform you of the passing of Agnes Neilson on October 13, 2010, a long time resident of Brandon, Manitoba. Our Aunt Agnes was born in Glasgow, Scotland and lived there until she immigrated with her widowed mother whose husband and Agnes's father had been killed in the battle of Arras in France, on 23rd April, 1917 during the First World War. Along with her siblings, brothers Norman and Robert and sister Minnie, the family arrived in Canada at Halifax. One of the first things to greet her was Canadian children celebrating Halloween; she was terrified and tried to hide in her mother's skirts. From the East Coast the little family headed west where Agnes and her family eventually ended up in Brandon, Manitoba. Things were tough for the young family, living on a small British war widow's pension. My aunt Agnes told me that when she was young she did not feel that she was poor and that she did not realized it until she was much older. She went to school and did the normal things children do growing up. As soon as the older children, Norman and Minnie, became old enough they got jobs even though jobs were hard to find. Agnes got part time work as a student in one of the local theatres and aunt Minnie got her a job working at McKenzie Seeds. She wanted to better herself so she went to business college. When the war in 1939 broke out there were more job opportunities. Agnes went to work as a civilian at #12 Air Training Base out where the Brandon Airport is now. All four children contributed to the running of the family. After the war Agnes got a job as a secretary working for the CNR in Brandon. She loved this job and often told me she was the only female in the office and the bosses and men treated her like royalty. It was a sad day when she retired. Agnes loved sports, was an avid golfer, curler and loved to play bridge. At one time she had season tickets to the Brandon Junior Wheat King games. She was a staunch churchgoer and belonged to the United Church in Brandon. Another passion my aunt Agnes had was the Eastern Star. She loved meeting and working with other people in this order. She would go on to be the Worthy Grand Matron and travel all over North America in this capacity, and told me it was a lot of work but she loved every minute of it. Agnes was fun to be with and always had a ready smile and could joke and kid around with everyone. She enjoyed life to its fullest and will be sadly missed by all her friends and many relatives, nephews and nieces, great nephews and nieces and great-great nephews and nieces. Agnes was predeceased by her father Jarvie, her mother Jean, her brothers Norman and Robert and her sister Wilhelmina (Minnie) Hotson, her sisters- in-law Helen and Margaret Neilson and brother-in-law Bert Hotson. The family would like to thank all the wonderful staff at Fairview Home in Brandon and a thank you to Ruth Davies and the Golden Girls Services. Everything was so much appreciated by the family. As to aunt Agnes' wishes she has been cremated. A private family graveside service will be held at a later date.Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.memorieschapel.com. Arrangements are with Memories Chapel & Pre-Planning Centre, 727-0330.

As published in Brandon Sun on Oct 23, 2010