MAYFAIR ‑ Farewell to 2021, a year of surprises. COVID-19 is still running rampant across our country and there is still fear among many people. The government is doing its best but that's not good enough for the many complainers. We live in hope and let us hope for a better year fast approaching.
With heavy hearts, the family of Mary Ann Heide laid to rest their loving mother at a funeral service held in Mayfair Hall Dec. 4. She was the wife of Jake (deceased) and lived to age 94. She maintained a large garden, fed livestock, milked cows and tended to the chickens. She and Jake also fostered many children during their married life. Her latter years were spent living in the Mennonite Nursing Home in Rosthern. Condolences to Gladys Glass, Don Heide and Bert Heide and families.
Home for the Christmas season to Rick and Pam Lamontagne of Whitkow were three of their daughters, two of whom live great distances away. Oldest, Brandi and her fiancé Derrick Bassa, travelled 12 hours from their new home at La Broquerie, Man. Derrick was raised in that area and they are both presently employed on the family's dairy farm. Morgan and boyfriend came from Dawson Creek, B.C. The youngest, Kayla, who is employed in a local North Battleford law firm, obviously had the shortest distance to travel. Unfortunately, their second oldest, Bailey from Slocan, B.C. was unable to be home.
There was holiday chaos at many North American airports. My Yuma, Ariz. friends from Flin Flon, Man. booked a flight home to the closest airport of Saskatoon, but with flights delayed they had a friend drive all the way to Calgary to pick them up. They are to return to Arizona Jan. 3, but are not too sure if things will go smoothly at the airports. Apparently, many U.S. flight staff have COVID and lacking backup, the aircrafts stood stationary and airports were overloaded with distraught, stranded passengers. Some Saskatchewan friends flying from to Texas to go to their home endured an extra two days in transition. Patience, understanding and courtesy are great traits to behold when flying.
My first cousin, Allan Nachtegaele from North Battleford, passed away a couple days after celebrating his 82nd birthday. His wife Evelyn passed away in September. They farmed six miles northeast of North Battleford before retirement. The family farm is 110 years old and has been passed on for the last four generations. Al's funeral is at 1 p.m. Dec. 31 at Notre Dame Catholic Church in North Battleford. Sincerest sympathy the family ‑ Sheri Muir, Craig, Dwayne and Keith and his three sisters.
Happy New Year, everyone. Let's hope this year will bring more hope during these challenging times. Times like this seem to bring the empathy and kindness out in people because we are all in this together. Stay safe and try to find the good in others, even if we have different opinions on this pandemic.
