(Sept 23, 1932 – July 22, 2022)
It is with our deepest sorrow we announce the peaceful passing of our dear mother Nellie, at Hillside Park Retirement Residence, Elliot Lake. Mom had many challenges in her lifetime with most recently her battle with dementia, yet she faced them all with courage, grace and lots of good humour.
The most important part of Mom’s life was spending time with her children and grandchildren. Throughout her life Mom’s main focus was ensuring she gave all of her children the best possible life and opportunities. Being around Mom was like circling the sun as her energy, humour and brilliance always pulled you closer to feel her immense warmth and love.
Mom has always said she was surprised that being a girl from small town Kirkland Lake she saw so much of the world with her eldest daughter Lena Macnae, son-in-law Jim, and grandson William. Mom made yearly-extended trips to Sydney and later Melbourne Australia, escaping Canadian winters.
Although her life was expansive, she always loved returning home to the North, which she loved passionately. Spending time with her eldest son Rick, wife Cathie (nee Swan) and granddaughter Rikki were always precious moments for Mom. Fishing with her daughter Della and her wife Kathy (Frey) taught Mom the life lesson of using a pail in a rocking boat when the pickerel were biting. Nellie was never far from her youngest son Robert (predeceased) throughout his challenging life. Although Rob’s life was largely consumed by his mental illness, Mom made sure she and our family provided quality and comfort to his days.
Mom had many passions besides fishing. She loved gardening and created beautiful gardens wherever she went. She was a consummate blueberry picker and forager of wild mushrooms. Mom was also an amazing cook and baker introducing our friends to Polish and Ukrainian delicacies. Perogies anyone? Borscht? Mom always had plenty to share. Mom was an avid reader as well, often polishing off a book a day when relaxing. She was an accomplished seamstress making most of our clothes as we grew up. Our Mom could do anything!
Mom was always a caregiver. She started with Dr. Spock’s 1946 book called The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care. Elliot Lake did not have a resident doctor at this time and Dr. Spock helped mom nurse all of us kids (and others) through every childhood disease and disaster.
In her early forties Mom went back to school and became an RNA working at St. Joseph’s Hospital. She especially loved working with the elderly in chronic care. Mom enjoyed the camaraderie she found in the health care field and made many life long friends.
In 1979 Mom furthered her schooling to earn her credentials and become the first female in Ambulance and Emergency Care at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Mom then moved to Underground Mine First Aid and Rescue, becoming the first woman in Ontario to do so. The miners always knew when Mom was underground by the hand painted flowers on her steel-toed miner’s boots.
On International Woman’s Day in the year 2000, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien recognised Mom, along with others, as a “Great Woman of the Century” for her contributions to health care in Elliot Lake. Seeking a life above ground Mom moved to North Bay. She worked as a RNA in a senior facility. Soon after she retired to begin her wanderlust ways.
Our family is incredibly indebted to and thankful for Mom’s healthcare provider Dr. Groh and especially to Alberta Jones the administrator and her exceptionally caring staff at Hillside Park Retirement Residence. Dementia impacted the last years of Mom’s life, and we could not have found a more caring and loving residence than Hillside for our dear mother.
Although we have lost our mother, Bubchi (grandmother), best friend, travel, gardening, and fishing companion, we have Mom’s stories, laughter, and insights to help us through these dark days.
Nellie is predeceased by her husband Bill (Boleslaw) Baczyk and her common law partner David LaFrance as well as many family members and friends she has loved. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Alternative Funeral Services.