Winnie’s biggest fear later in life was that she might linger on incapacitated. God was merciful and answered her prayers while she was still whole in body and mind. After a beautiful day doing her favourite things, Winnifred left us quickly and painlessly to continue her great adventure with her loved ones who had gone before.
Winnie was a great many things to a multitude of people: in addition to the more traditional roles of wife and mother, she was an armed forces medic, entrepreneur, world traveller, outdoors enthusiast, professional cook, farmer, finish carpenter, poet, photographer, gardener, nurse, artist, journalist, massage therapist, and writer.
She threw herself into each project with unsurpassed passion and the results were always wonderful.
Many will remember her “Time Out” column she wrote for years for the North Thompson papers from her retreat on the mountain near Louis Creek.
Everyone cherished her generosity and unconditional love.
Winnie loved life and lived it to the fullest. Her joy for life enriched the lives of countless people she met along the way.
She will be greatly missed by her many friends and relatives. We look forward to seeing her again “Over the Rainbow”.
A celebration of her life will be held at White Rock Community Church 15280 Pacific Ave. on September 22nd, at 2pm.
Here is one of Winnie’s many “Time Out” columns that ran in the North Thompson papers from the early 70’s and well into the 80’s.
The family especially enjoyed this one.
End the day with peaceful thoughts
by Winifred Holt
I failed to write a Thanksgiving column – that’s because Thanksgiving always sneaks up on me. I think the Americans have a better idea, Thanksgiving when everything is ready for winter; we are still in the midst of harvest with ours.
When I remembered I was thankful. I was especially thankful my youngest girl took time away from husband and home to spend the weekend with me. I always put my company to work in the summertime; and summer to me is anytime there isn’t snow on the ground. We cleaned up the garden, hauled and corded the wood that had been outside curing, and did some chinking. I was thankful when we got to town that I had remembered to close up the air vents under the house. Last year it didn’t get done until too late to save the cellar from freezing. I was also thankful I didn’t have to get supper; she took me out to eat.
I am always thankful for so many things. I learned a little trick long ago. When I feel depressed and think negatively, I deliberately start counting up all the positive things in my life and end up feeling thankful even for a little trouble, a few aches and pains, a disappointment, etc., because in the long run they are blessings in disguise, and only serve to make a better person of me. They keep me humble. A person has to have a few humbling experiences in this life to get the thinking processes straightened out.
Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth, is one of my favourite beatitudes. Meek doesn’t mean wishy-washy or weak. It means humble, gentle, patient and mild. We choose our paths. It all begins with our thoughts. Our thoughts form our attitude. To be thankful is to be peaceful. What better way to start or end any day than to fix our thoughts, our minds, on peaceful things. No matter what we have been working at, to have peace in our hearts is the greatest accomplishment of all.