Madeline Therese Little

Madeline Therese Little, our mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, died at age 94 with family by her side at the Salvation Army Sunset Lodge in Victoria BC on Tuesday afternoon, April 12, following over 10 years of gradual decline. She was a resident at Sunset Lodge since 2007. Madeline was predeceased by her husband Chester, and her four siblings (Clarice, Lucien, Phillip, Cecile) many years ago. She is survived by her children, Garry (Loraine), Bob (Myrna), Karen (Jerry), Len, and her grandchildren Roxanne, Lindsey, Danielle, Trevor, Brian, Jason, Marcus, and great grandchildren Brianna, Mikayla, Melissa, Kyle, Jackson, Connor, Kessler, Jayden, Chanel and Quinn. Madeline was born in Saint Boniface, Manitoba of French and Scottish heritage. She grew up in Fort William, Ontario and met Chester, who lived next door to her family. They married when she was 16 and he 22. A few years later after their first child Garry was born, they moved, in 1941, to Herring Cove, NS and on to Victoria BC in 1947. Chester was away for long periods during his earlier years in the Navy and she kept up the home front and care of her three sons and daughter on her own. In 1952, due to Dad`s Navy posting's, our family moved to Matsqui, BC for two years and to Halifax NS for two years, then back to Victoria in 1956 to take up permanent residence in the house they purchased in 1950 on Edgeware Rd.
Our Mom was a private, shy, and very modest person. She had an inner strength and fortitude, and was proud and determined. She was very protective of her children and grandchildren. Her love for us showed in this and other ways, such as forgiving our mistakes, helping out when needed, sticking by us when we were in trouble, teaching us to be responsible, good people, having trust in us, and tolerating the antics and jokes of her children and our Dad. Her memory and lessons still guide us.
Mom enjoyed being a homemaker. Her home-made bread, donuts and other goodies she made when we were growing up are fondly remembered. She took an interest in expanding her cooking and baking skills to serve gourmet-like meals on special occasions for her family, especially Christmas Eve dinners which included homemade fruit cakes, chocolate truffles, and torteire. Mom had other hobbies as well, such as sewing on her pedestal Singer sewing machine that she loved and later on a new Singer that had a zillion features. She took advanced sewing classes and also enjoyed knitting sweaters for the grand-children. Later in life she liked to garden and had fun with cross stitching and line dancing. In her down time she took pleasure in watching her favourite soap operas. Mom went to night school in her late 40's to learn bookkeeping to help with Dad`s small T.V. repair business after he retired from the navy. Using her new accounting skills, she worked for a short time at a moving company as bookkeeper and answering phones.
In their retirement years Mom and Dad enjoyed some trips travelling by car throughout B.C. and in the U.S. Favourite outings with family included holiday camping trips in their van in and out of Province, day trips to Nanoose Bay to roast oysters on the beach, clam-digging and crabbing at Esquimalt Lagoon, salmon fishing trips with Dad in their small boat at Beachy Head French Creek, etc. and trout fishing in the Interior. After Dad died at age 61, Mom, then just 55, treasured and looked forward to spending time with her sons, daughter and daughters-in-law and her grandchildren. She loved shopping with her daughter and daughters in law, going for drives, and going along on holidays with family to Disneyland, Mount St Helen`s after the volcano, the Oregon coast and Edmonton. She was very frugal while saving to make improvements to the house, and keeping the house tidy and clean were important to her. She would occasionally treat herself and buy a piece of jewelry, a new outfit or décor for the house. She was a member of the TOPs weight loss club, regularly attending weekly meetings for 20 years, and maintained her goal weight into her 80's.
Staff at Sunset Lodge have often shared how well Mom was liked there. Although Mom couldn't verbally communicate with them, she had gestures and smiles that endeared her to them. We thank them for sharing that with us and the loving care they demonstrated.