Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
Emil GREFLUND Obituary
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Emil GREFLUND
5 Entries
Jim & Karen Pigott
May 8, 2014
Emil was a second father to me. I met Emil's nephew, Henrik Jacobsen, in Grade 4 and remain close friends with him today. I became friends with Finn, Edith and Emil's oldest son, at age 11 and soon became lifelong friends with Finn, his brother Keld and their cousin Henrik. As kids in Thornhill, we built cabins for ourselves, with Emil's (and Henrik's father's) blessings. So we had the independence of youths with our own place of refuge to enjoy weekend cookouts yet we were aware that the loving, watchful eyes of parents were present.
An unbelievably able craftsman, Emil, with the help of his sons, undertook the building of their own home in Thornhill in 1966. When I say they built their own home, I mean they built their own home! There were just 3 tradesmen who came on site: a well-digger (but not until the family had dug as deep as they could on their own but didn't strike water), the bulldozer guy who dug the basement, and the bricklayers who did the finish brick and stonework on the completed house. Everything else Emil and boys did by themselves. Everything.
And Emil, at age 99, lived in that house until the very end, with Edith, aged 98! What a story! Of course the boys provided ample care for them to enable this, but still it is a remarkable, and lovely legacy - all too rare these days.
Emil was especially proud of his self-engineered heating and home-built air-conditioning systems, taking advantage of that deep well long after the house was on city water. The simplest question about it would immediately lead to a trip to the basement for a thorough tour of the entire works, and a description of each valve and gauge along with the efficiency principles behind each component.
Always welcomed for a traditional Danish smørrebrød, frikadeller, flæskesteg, leverpostej, my favourite marinerede sild (pickled herring) and many other wonderful dishes, served with Tuborg and copious amounts of Akvavit (Danish schnapps), Emil was a gracious host who, along with Edith, introduced Danish cuisine and hospitality to us (Canadians used to "prairie food" - i.e. meat and mashed potatoes)!
Emil was quick to present political theory and a practical implementation scheme for a proportional vote-counting system that would replace our archaic, first-past-the-post system of democracy.
There are too many stories to tell about Emil as we boys who grew up together, visited each other each weekend in our cabins (called "forts" in our days), went on numerous boat trips camping along the Trent Canal and supported each other throughout High School and University (interestingly, we all graduating from Engineering!) as we were loved and raised by Emil and Edith (and Henrik's and my parents)! Suffice it to say we only now appreciate what we were given by stable, loving, hard-working and dedicated parents. I always felt welcomed and, as stated, that Emil was a second father to me.
Now our prayers must go out to Edith. After 69 years of marriage, she is getting on towards middle-age! She is still in the house, a miracle, but that cannot last too long. With failing sight and hearing, she is destined to a long-term care facility. I will visit her at first opportunity, my second Mom, as I have mostly done on my (rare) trips to Toronto, and ask that all family and friends keep her in your thoughts and prayers.
Emil's concern when he came to Canada in 1957 was for his family. Emil and Edith's goal was to provide a better future for their children. To say that this has been accomplished, in spades, is the proverbial understatement of the century! Who knew then that Denmark would become one of the best countries in the world in which to live? And that, if the family had stayed, all would have been OK. But, with the Communist threat of the 1950s, the world looked quite different. It is the courage of Emil (and George Jacobsen, Henrik's father, Emil's bother-in-law) that led them to relocate their families to Canada. To say that I think they made the right decision is also great understatement! Not to mention that my best friends would still be speaking Danish!
Granddaughter Sara, Finn and Marg's daughter, has moved to Vancouver so we do get the "daughter" experience - just not enough of it!
May God's blessings continue to pour over the Greflund family. We will miss Emil but be grateful for his long, fruitful life, and we will remember Edith as she adjusts to her sunset years.
Jan Lowenthal
May 1, 2014
Emil was a true gentleman. Always a kind word to everyone. He lived a great life. My thoughts go to his wife Edith and the other members of his lovely, close-knit family. Emil will be missed.
Henrik Jacobsen
May 1, 2014
Dear Emil was my favourite uncle, he and my lovely aunt Edith made me welcome in their home as a little boy and always afterwards. Never short of an opinion or a political idea Emil was engaged and bright as can be to the very end. My uncle was an example to us all with his humour and work ethic and family life. My deepest condolences to Edith, his sons, their wives and children.
Catherine Astolfo
April 30, 2014
When two people are married for 69 years, it's going to be so sad and difficult to adjust to Emil's absence for Edith. We will think of her often and send prayers of strength. We will toast our parents' wonderful lives on our favorite deck this summer, Bent and Bonnie. Love from Vince & Cathy
How you can show support
Monet
April 30, 2014
You will always be remembered
Showing 1 - 5 of 5 results