Grace Henderson passed away peacefully in Red Deer, Alberta, on August 12, 2020 at the age of 98 years, the wife of late Rev. Hartman W. Henderson.
Predeceased by her parents William J. Ewing and Minnie Dart Ewing, and by her brother Elgin Ewing (late Catherine). She is survived by her daughters Joan (late Jerry Skiba) and Jean (Marc Fortin), her grandchildren Korey (Stephanie) and Blain Skiba, Jonathan, Michael, Steven, Melodie, Katie and Serena Fortin as well as her great-grandchildren Jakob, Alivia and Sophea Skiba, several nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.
Grace was a teacher for over 35 years. She began at 19 years of age in a one-room schoolhouse in Alberta. At age 21 she married F/O Emmet S. Kaechele who, sadly, died two years later, in 1945 in World War II when his plane went down over the Atlantic. when Grace was teaching at Canadian Nazarene College in Red Deer, she met her second husband, Hartman W. Henderson.
After their wedding in 1956, they moved to Quebec where he was Pastor of the Franklin Centre Church of the Nazarene, to which they remained faithful supporters for the next 46 years.
Their daughters Joan and Jean were born before moving to Shawbridge, Quebec, where Grace taught elementary school until 1965, the year they moved to Huntingdon. There she taught high school at the Academy until CVR High School opened in Ormstown, where she finished her career teaching mathematics. She spent her final years in Alberta with her brother, sister-in-law, and daughter Joan, enjoying grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will take place on Saturday, September 19th, 2020, at 2:00pm at the Franklin Centre Church of the Nazarene, 825 Grimshaw Rd. in Franklin Centre, J0S 1E0, following a first ceremony held on August 20th, 2020, in Red Deer, Alberta. Given the current situation, we kindly remind that attendees must wear a face covering and observe physical distancing measures.
The family is sincerely grateful to the staff of Westpark Lodge in Red Deer for the excellent care they provided to their mother since 2009.
Memorial donations may be made to Westpark Lodge in Red Deer, Alberta, or to the Franklin Centre Church of the Nazarene in Quebec.
Thank you to all for your condolences and support at this time.
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To Jean and Joan
Sorry to hear of the loss of your mother. I just happened to come across her obit now about 2 years later. I had her as a teacher at CVR and she was always kind and thoughtful as was your dad to.
Sincerely,
Lance Dearmond
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Condolences to you both, Jean and Joan,
Your mother was my teacher in Shawbridge in the early 1960’s. She left a lasting impression on me of such high standards from every perspective. She was patient, humorous and so nice – and at the same time she was an incredibly effective teacher.
I remember times when the two of you would show-up for unscheduled visits while your mom’s class was in session – knocking on the back exterior side door to see you mother! I remember how the class thoroughly enjoyed those visits from Mrs. Henderson’s delightful young daughters!
Best wishes.
Sincerely,
Jeff Black
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To Jean & Joan,
Just this evening my older brother Jeffrey and I were reminiscing about our days in Shawbridge. We spoke fondly of your family and remembered the big yellow house! We were a family of seven children, who emigrated to the US in 1965. I used to come over quite often to play at your house, even getting to sleep over with my sister Judy now and then! Your family came to visit us in Massachusetts in the 1970s. My mother’s name was Brenda McElreavy.
I am so glad that I decided to see what might pop up with a quick search on the internet!
May the days ahead be filled with the wonderful memories of your mother’s life.
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To Jean & Family
Sorry to read that you had lost your Mom.
May all your good memories see you though this sad time.
Errolyn
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We are sorry to hear of the passing of Grace, she was truly a special friend to Pat and the late John Langille as well as myself, Heather Langille. I’ll never forget that one special Christmas we spent with Grace and Hartman, we were truly blessed. Our condolences to the family and friends from Patricia and Heather Langille…Godspeed Grace until we meet again.
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So thankful for Aunt Grace. She poured so much love into our lives. Appreciated her prayers. We picture her now with Jesus whom she looked forward to being with. Tears were shed with the news of her going home. Want to wrap our arms around her precious family. Deepest Sympathy. Love, Bob and Wanda
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Our condolences to Joan and Jean and their families. Everyone who knew your mother will remember her fondly.
Sincerely, Helen Goff and family.
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So sorry for your loss. I didn’t know Grace real well even though she was a cousin. I do remember her wedding to Hartman in Red Deer and after the wedding we had gone to Uncle Will’s house for tea…we played hopscotch on his sidewalk…
The next time I met her was when she moved to Edmonton and she caught a ride home from a Family Reunion with my Dad and I.Got to know her a bit better when she was able to attend other Family Reunions. She is now participating a a very large Family Reunion.
May your many special memories give you strength at this time.
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Aunty Grace was a very special friend to our family. It was her and Uncle Hartman who drove my parents and my brother and myself from the hospital after we were each born. We spent many special holidays together just like family. I spent a number of years keeping in close contact with Aunty Grace as an adult. She was always non judgemental, encouraging and a fierce prayer warrior. It was very special to be able to be a part of her memorial and her birthday today. Farewell Aunty Grace. I’ll see you on the other side
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To Joan And Jean and family. First let me express to you and you families my sincere condolences on the passing of you beloved Mother, Grand Mother and Great Grandmother, on behalf of myself and my sister Diane Selby Dennis, we were both students of your Mom. I first met your Mother on September 5, 1961, the day I began grade one at Shawbridge Elementary School. It was a totally different world then the world we live in now. Your Mother was Kind and patient and she became our surrogate Mother as each one of us were away from our homes for a few hours a day and away from our own Mothers for the very first time. She took on this role perfectly. She taught us how to read and write but also she instilled in us the strengths that we would need in our lives to face the many challenges that we were to face in the coming years. We became the good people that we are today because of this. On my part I was so privileged to reconnect with your Mom and have a close friendship with her. She had long ago ceased being my teacher but she taught me even in my adult years with her letters of hope and friendship. This is a life so well lived and shared and we are all so thankful to have shared our journey through this life with her. To have walked beside her, to have someone who we could share our burdens with who would listen, we knew things would be OK because she said that they would. This certainty would guide us in those dark days when we so badly needed it. The only thing we have now to say is Thank you. Thank you so much for all that you have done, all the burdens that you have taken on to help us. Thank you for your simple love and kindness. At the end of one’s life the greatest tribute that can be paid to anyone is this. Etienne de Grellet wrote, » I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or kindness that I can show to any human being; let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again. » Lulu Grace Ewing Kaechele Henderson lived by these words. I will always remember her and keep her in my heart, as the years pass and I go on with my life with strength, kindness, patients and love because Grace taught me this. We shall all honor her name and keep her in our lives and as the years go by, still we will be blessed by her life. For the likes of Grace shall never pass this way again. Thank you Mrs. Henderson.
Gary Selby bragg90@hotmail.com