We regret to announce the passing of Elsie Louise Schneider on Wednesday October 3rd at Garden Oasis, Ashcroft extended care home.
Aunt Elsie as she was know by family and just about everyone else, was born March 29th 1929 in Wilkie Saskatchewan at Mrs. Campbell’s Hospital, the oldest of eight children to Lawrence and Jesse Johnston.
“In a short story of her own life written in 2004 she wrote as follows:
We were all quite athletic so as well as our farm and dairy chores we competed in sports, skating and participate in church and other youth groups.
Even though money was short I went to the Normal School in Saskatoon and began teaching in a little country school just after I turned 18. After four years, War work enticed my sister and I to Ottawa which was full of young people. My job was with wartime Prices and Trade Board.
In 1944 I joined the C.W.A.C., after basic training and a course in typing and short hand I was posted to Ottawa. In the office at our barracks I worked my way up to Sergeant and later assisted in closing the barracks”
After the war she returned to Vancouver and went to summer school for a refresher in teaching primary classes, then was offered a choice of Ashcroft or Wells, and the rest is history.
Her story goes on to say that she met Henry Schneider and after two years they were married October 3rd 1951, from then on she became a ranchers wife and moved to the family ranch in Upper Hat Creek, were they spent many happy years. Their home was the setting for many gatherings of family and friends over the years.
The Pavilion Woman’s Institute was a very important of her life from the time she first joined in 1952, she held many positions within their own group as well the WI as a larger organization. Also mentioned in her story was the fact that they did not have children of their own, however many kids spent the holidays at the ranch which was always a happy and busy place. Elsie always had a very strong sense of family, community and thus her huge contributions to any group or organization she was a part of over her lifetime.
Elsie was predeceased by her husband Henry Schneider in 1991, all of her siblings, many of her life long dear friends and family over the years, she is survived by her brother-in-law Neil McLeod, many nephews and nieces, great nieces and nephews and countless friends.
A service and celebration of Elsie’s life will be held on November 3rd at 1:00 P.M. at the Zion United Church Ashcroft with a tea to follow at the church hall, all friends and family are invited to attend.
Thompson Valley Funeral Home Ashcroft entrusted with arrangements.