Olive REID

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REID: Olive Jane (Holman) Reid passed away peacefully at Orchard View Long Term Care Home, December 14th, 2013. Olive was born at her grandfather’s house at 66 Credon Road, North Camberwell, London, England on August 11, 1923. Olive leaves behind her sons, Russell Reid (Linda) of Lac du Bonnet, MB and Geoffrey Reid (Marcia) of Ottawa, ON; daughter, Lynn Wood (Wayne) of Oromocto, NB; grandchildren, Art (Tanya), John, Angela (Brad) and Matt (Christine); great grandchildren, Gage, Brooklyn, Ava, Parker and Bella; brother, Frank Holman (Sylvia) of Toronto, ON; as well as many nieces, nephews and extended family. In addition to her husband, William, Olive was predeceased by her parents, George and Alice (Chapman) Holman and brothers, Dennis and Laurie Holman. Her early years were spent attending school, taking swimming lessons and learning to play the piano at Jordan Hill Academy. Mom always loved swimming and completed her second and first class certificates by the time she was thirteen. Swimming remained one of her passions, spending many years in the YWCA public pool in Brandon, MB. Many summers were spent swimming and reading at Clear Lake in Manitoba and in later years at Grand Lake in New Brunswick. Mom swam into her eighties. At age fourteen, Olive entered Business College where she studied secretarial skills. There were many stories to tell of the students’ antics there. In 1939 when war broke out, her excellent typing skills earned her a position in the Admiralty (British Navy), Whitehall, the same building where Winston Churchill’s office was. This was very stressful, as her assignment was to fill out bills of lading for Royal Navy shipping. Many times Mom was handed a memo indicating a certain ship had gone down and she began the heartbreaking job of listing the lost contents and missing sailors. Mom always marvelled at how tall and handsome the Canadians were. William Reid, in particular, won her heart. They were married in St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church on January 12th, 1946. A trip to Canada aboard the Aquitania followed in the summer of 1946. For a girl from London, the massive distances from Pier 21 in Halifax to Brandon Manitoba, by train, in the scorching heat, was awe inspiring. Mom and Dad purchased a house in Brandon and began raising a family. Dad worked as a carpenter. In 1947, their first child Russell was born, followed by Lynne in 1950, and Geoffrey in 1956. In between, they found time to purchase a grocery store. For the next twenty years the time was spent raising children and instilling in them a love of athletics, music, and education. Mom was a founding member of the War Brides in Brandon and loved getting together with the girls to talk about their families and reminisce about their lives in England. Once the children grew up, Mom returned to the workplace as a school secretary, primarily at Earl Oxford School. 25 years later she retired. Olive and Bill then spent time travelling to Europe, British Columbia and several trips to New Brunswick. Olive was an excellent mother and homemaker. Her specialty was roast beef, roast potatoes and Yorkshire pudding. Mom and Dad also enjoyed making chocolate chip cookies which were awesome. Another favorite was chocolate birthday cake with the one inch icing on top. A memorial service will be held at the Oromocto Funeral Home Chapel, 108 Winnebago St., Oromocto, N.B. on Wednesday, December 18, 2013 at 2:00 pm with Canon Walter Williams officiating. Interment will be in Manitoba at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in Olive’s memory can be made to the John Wood Foundation or to a charity of the donor's choice. Online condolencescan be made atwww.oromoctofh.com 605-357-5100.

As published in Brandon Sun on Dec 21, 2013