Muriel HAMMOND

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HAMMOND, Muriel Edna - Peacefully, on July 5, 2014, with her family present, Edna (Jones) Hammond, wife of the late Melvin Hammond, passed away at her residence in Fairview Home, at the age of 90 years. Edna was born January 23, 1924, on the family farm near Brookdale, Manitoba, the fourth child of Joseph and Gwendolyn (Newport) Jones, and sister to Audrey (Nick Nassachuk), Gwen (George Briggs), Reg (Grace), Lew (Gladys), Frank (Peggy) and Thelma (Harold Grasby). After Grade 11, Edna helped at home for a year and then taught “on permit” for a year at Coxworth School, where she met Mel. She returned to Brookdale to complete Grade 12 and then went on to graduate from Winnipeg Normal School (teacher’s college) in 1946. She taught at a series of rural schools before she and Mel married on November 21, 1951. They farmed together at Hathaway, a mile from Mel’s family home, midway between Deloraine and Hartney, for 35 years and raised three children: Karen (Bruce Masterman), Keith (Barbara Sobien) and Gwenda. Mel and Edna instilled in their children the value of family, who looked forward to spending Sunday dinner and every holiday together with aunts, uncles and cousins. As grandchildren began to arrive, Mel and Edna supported their lives and achievements attending sports events, recitals, graduations, and performances, from High River, Alberta, for Chelsea and Sarah Masterman, all around southern Manitoba for Alex (Janelle), Sydney and Kelly Hammond, and out to St. Andrews, New Brunswick for Matthew and Hannah Gauley. Edna was a long-time member of the Manitoba Women’s Institute, in both Regent and Brandon, and was provincial president in 1984. She believed strongly in working to serve her community and her province through WI and was proud of the organization’s achievements. Her participation in WI also provided her with continuous opportunities for learning and travel. Through WI, both she and Mel participated in courses and conferences that took them to Ottawa, Washington (D.C.), Newfoundland, Kansas and Ireland among other destinations. After their retirement to Brandon, they spent several winters in Arizona, and also travelled to Hawaii and Mexico. Edna was bookkeeper on the farm and, together, she and Mel made many improvements to their homestead, planting a windbreak, building a new house in 1968 and landscaping the yard to incorporate many flowers and trees in addition to a large vegetable garden. Their efforts earned them a Farm Improvement Award. Although they officially retired from the farm in 1986 and moved to Brandon, they continued to help Keith and Barb at the farm for many years to follow. Edna enjoyed curling and golfing. She was a wonderful cook, baker and gardener, and had a great sense of fun. She and Mel were also great dancers, attending dances with friends wherever they lived and travelled. They attended the United Church at Regent for many years until it closed and then they joined Deloraine United Church. After retiring to Brandon, they joined Central United Church. Edna was predeceased by her loving husband Mel in 2011 just days before their 60th wedding anniversary, her parents, her sisters Gwen and Audrey, and her brothers Lew and Frank. She leaves to mourn her three children and their spouses, seven grandchildren, brother Reg, and sister Thelma, and many relatives and friends. The family extends heartfelt thanks to the caring staff of Fairview Home for the wonderful care they provided to both Edna and Mel during their residence there. A funeral service was held for Edna on July 11, 2014 at Central United Church in Brandon with her granddaughter, Rev. Chelsea Masterman officiating. Interment followed at Rosewood Memorial Gardens. Donations may be made in Edna’s memory to the Canadian Diabetes Association, Unit A1-800 Rosser Avenue, Brandon, MB, R7A 6N5, or to the Manitoba Women's Institute MWI Forever Fund, at MWI, 1129 Queens Avenue, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 1L9. To make a donation online visit www.mbwi.org/donate. 

As published in Brandon Sun on Nov 21, 2014