Mary-Ellen (Patterson) McArthur

In Loving Memory of

Mary-Ellen McArthur

1913 - 2014

Mary–Ellen McArthur, age 100 years, of Roblin, Manitoba, passed away on Friday, August 15, 2014, at Crocus Court Personal Care Home. Ellen had enjoyed a full day of activities with family members who were visiting and had retired to have a nap.  

Mary–Ellen Patterson was born November 5, 1913 at the family home in Shellmouth, Manitoba, the daughter of Peter and Mary (nee McFadyen) Patterson. Ellen (as she was called) was named after her Dad’s sister, Aunt Ellen (pronounced in Gaelic as Eelan) and Mary after her Mother.

Ellen was an “organizer”, and organized fairs for the village children with prizes for mud pies, pets and talents. She also ran a “trading post” for used items. She learned to sing and dance. Ellen sang in the Church Choir for sixty-four years– starting at age thirteen under the direction of William Wallace. She was often on stage singing and dancing at concerts and in plays. She was also involved in sports, playing hockey on the river (using old catalogues for shin pads), tennis on grass courts, and swimming in the river.

Ellen loved fashion and had her hair cut in the latest style, a boyish bob. Ellen told the story of getting dressed for a dance in a new “sleeveless” style– she wore a jumper without a blouse underneath. When she came downstairs her Mother said she was not to leave the house with bare arms! Ellen put her blouse on but after she left the house went back to “sleeveless”. That was considered “Riske”.

Ellen was tall and said her feet grew too fast. One year she had outgrown another pair of shoes, and with hard times, her Father had no money for shoes for her so he went to the shed and cut the blades off a pair of skates. Those shoes would not have been comfortable.

Ellen always wanted to be a teacher or a nurse but she graduated during the Great Depression and there was no money for advanced schooling.  She worked at Les Pennington’s store in Shellmouth. After ten years there, she moved to Winnipeg and worked for Wilson’s Stationary. She became manager of the Main Floor and later was sent to Port Arthur, Ontario to train staff.

During the years in Winnipeg Ellen did some travelling. She and her best friend Vi Dixon travelled to Los Angeles, Banff and Lake Louise. It was a big thrill for Ellen to travel to those places in the 1940`s.

After the Great Depression a young fellow by the name of Peter Chalmers McLaren, better known as Mac, started working for the CN Railway and arrived in Shellmouth with a work crew. He met Ellen who was working in Pennington’s Store. Mac would later say that he never ate so many chocolate bars or drank so many cokes at the store while he tried to see more of Ellen. They fell in love. Ellen later told the story that one day Mac came into the store and calling her over to the pickle barrel– he kissed her and said `I`ve never kissed you behind the pickle barrel before``. Quite a romance!

They got married at Shellmouth United Church on October 25, 1952. They lived at Saskatoon, Biggar and then Delisle, Saskatchewan, where Mac died in 1957. They had a very happy marriage, which was much too short. They were only in Delisle for three months when Mac was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He died six weeks later and was buried in Winnipeg near his parents on Christmas Eve 1957.

Ellen`s sister Eileen asked Ellen and daughter Shirley to live with them for a while in Winnipeg during this tough time. The following May, Ellen and Shirley took the train to Roblin to visit Ellen`s Aunt Margaret and Uncle Mac, While visiting in Roblin a job opened up at Roblin Trading Store. Harry Maslove hired Ellen immediately and Ellen often said afterwards that she “came to Roblin for a week and never left!”

Roblin was a good place for Ellen and Shirley. They shared a house with another widow, Jean Arnott and her two girls, Peggy and Janice. The Arnotts lived downstairs and Ellen and Shirley upstairs. Ellen was active in the church choir. She worked full time, sewed their clothes and still had time to do lots of activities with Shirley.

Ellen and Shirley lived across the street from the McArthur`s. Shirley and Gwen fast became best friends and Brenda was their live doll. After Gordon`s wife passed away, Ellen and Gordon started going to dances together. One of Shirley`s friends said, “wouldn`t it be funny if your Mom married Gwen`s Dad”. The girls all laughed. Well, on November 2, 1968 Gordon and Ellen got married, and this was a very lovely chapter in Ellen`s life, with a husband and three daughters. The girls never knew their parents to argue, they enjoyed each other`s company. They went fishing, curling, berry picking, and travelling, having some great trips across Canada, USA, Hawaii, Scotland, and Alaska. They enjoyed organizing a weekend away for all of the family. Gordon said he enjoyed those weekends, seeing all of the family having so much fun together. More than any big trip, they loved to take the grandchildren fishing, boating, and going to movies,

Sadly, Gordon passed away suddenly of a heart attack on October 8. 1996, at the young age of seventy-seven. Ellen found this so lonely. They had twenty-eight years together. Ellen was fortunate to have her cousin Mabel Craig and so many friends to help her. She continued to live in her house until the age of ninety-one.

At this time, Ellen said it was “time” and moved to Maple Manor.  She then had her good friends; Vi Laird and Gladys Craig close by. She wasn`t very long making a lot of new friends at the Manor. She enjoyed all the activities and having all these friends around her. The home care workers were the very best and she so appreciated all the loving care they gave her. She lived next door to Gladys Craig and they had so much fun together, Card games went on almost every night and some nights they enjoyed a glass of wine and many stories would be shared. As one of her great-grandchild said on the evening that Ellen passed away, “now she will be with Gladys”.

In February of 2014, Ellen became part of the community at Crocus Court Personal Care Home in Roblin. The family had dreaded that day for years, but it was nothing to fear. Ellen loved it there as she had many people to visit and loving staff to care for her. The family thanks each and every one of the staff at Crocus Court. Ellen loved all the visits from the coffee girls and her dear friends Joyce Bork and Mary Keast.

Ellen was a special person who did not need worldly goods as much as she needed friends and family.

Surviving to mourn Ellen’s death and cherish fond memories are her daughters; Shirley (Percy) Schepp of Carvel, Alberta, Gwen (Rolly) Zimmer of Tisdale, Saskatchewan, and Brenda (Stuart) MacLeod of Russell, Manitoba, as well as seven grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. Also surviving are her brother-in-law; Wilf McArthur, her sister; Hazel McLean, her sister-in-law;  Gertie McArthur as well as numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

Ellen was predeceased by her parents; Peter and Mary Patterson, first husband; Peter `Mac`` McLaren, in 1957, her second husband; Gordon McArthur in 1996, her siblings; Margaret (Jack) Vosper, Belle (Ab) Busch, Nez (Roberta) Patterson, Eileen (Jack) Levacque, her brothers-in-law; Jim Miller, Emmett McLean, Tom McLaren, Isa (Cam) Preston, Bob (Helen) McLaren, Cliff McArthur, Jim (Hope) McArthur, Bill (Lena) McArthur, her sisters-in-law; Gladys McArthur, Helena (Morley) Somers, her fathers-in-law and mothers-in-law; Tom (Christina) McLaren, and Jack (Vee) McArthur.

Ellen`s Funeral Service was held on Tuesday, August 19, 2014 at 4:00 PM from Knox United Church in Roblin, with Mrs. Grace Skomorowski officiating. The Organist, Mrs. Betty Wenner led the Knox United Church Choir and the congregation in singing the hymns “I Feel The Winds Of God Today” and “Shall We Gather At The River”. Ellen’s favourite; “Oh Danny Boy” was sung by Bob Dayson. Bob and Betty Dayson sang “I’ll Fly Away”. Rolly Zimmer shared the Words of Remembrance. 

Mr. Doug Storey was the piper for the Processional, Recessional and for the march to the grave.

Casket Bearers were Ellen’s grandsons; David and Jarrett Schepp, Carter and Curtis McLeod, Myles and Shane Zimmer.

Following the Interment Service at Roblin District Cemetery, a reception was hosted by the United Church Lunch Committee at the church hall.

Come In, Come In and Sit Down

Come in, come in and sit down,

you are part of her family.

We are lost and we are found and

we are part of her family.

You know the reason why you came,

yet no reason can explain; so share

in the laughter and cry in the pain,

for we are part of her family.

NAIRN-CHYZ FUNERAL HOME

Entrusted with Arrangements

Roblin’s Only Locally Owned

and Family Operated Funeral Home

(204) 937-2111

nairn-chyzfuneralhome.com