Emma McBey

In My Pocket

I have memories in my pocket.
They rattle among the change.

My memories of you are treasures I carry wherever I go.

They are stored in bits and pieces, parts of a beautiful whole
They give me comfort when I think I am alone.

Yes, I have memories in my pocket, like so much other stuff I keep there.

But of all the treasures I have, it’s the memories of you that are the most precious.

We will miss you dearly aunty and I am so glad I got to talk with you on the phone on the Sunday before your passing away.Mom and I offer the family our deepest sympathy from our entire family.I just wish we would of been well enough to attend the funeral our prayers are with you and we are thinking about you always From Maddie Estelle and boys

R.I.P. Aunty Emma!! Thanks for the memories. They're numerous and go WAY back but most recently, a few years back, you and your sis-in-law Jeanne (my grandma) got up and were waltzing together in Aunty Aurelia's living room. So wierd funny....but so tender and loving. It made me feel so good, having three generations there to watch, and learn from their elders. This summer there will be even more generations looking up for you and your families' stars in the great sky. May you all shine on. We'll see you. My condolences to the family.

It is especially hard to loose the last parent; you are no longer the child. When you were uncertain, she re-assured you...Telling you not to cry, that she has lived a long good life. She reminds you, that someday she must leave you.

We become the parent, no longer the child. We re-assure when uncertain. Not to cry, for we have had a good life, and someday we must leave. We dance the Circle of Life, waltzing into generations, and to continue into generations yet to come.

Our thoughts are with the Family in this difficult time.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you in this time of great sorrow. I remember Aunty Emma coming to Ontario and her and Mom sitting up half the night with a pot of tea remembering old times. She always had great stories for us. We will miss her.

We were very sad to hear of Aunty's passing. Wish we could be there with all of you. Be thankful that she did not suffer and she is now in a better place with all the ones who have gone before her. Our deepest sympathy goes to all your family. Love Lucille and Walter

May God bless all the family in this time of sorrow. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.I remember when Auntie Emma came to Ontario her and Mom sitting up half the night with a pot of tea catching up on old times and she always had plenty of stories for us too.

Granny will be forever in my heart, she will be so missed. I was fortunate to meet Granny through Brenda. To all the family my deepest symapathy.
Faye

Hi Family and Friends:

I am the oldest grandchild of Emma, or as we all know her Granny. It is with great saddness that I say goodbye to my last Grande Parent. I have many memorys of Granny and Grandpa McBey. The kindness they showed thier friends and family was so great that they will leave an impresion on everyone they touched.
We will miss you Granny and pray that you are now holding your one true love in heaven, Grandpa.

Love and hope to all those you loved.
DeAnna (McBey) Ford

To Aunt Emma's family. We want to send our deepest sympathy to all of the family. We sure enjoyed her visits when she used to come to Ontario. Just be thankful she didn't suffer. Just remember all the happy time you shared together. She is with Uncle Walter now. Our thoughts are with you. Your Cousin Mavis and Carl Thacker and family.

As part of my coming to terms with the events of the last few days, I thought I would sit and reflect on my life’s shared journey with that of my mom’s.

Following below are a collection of some of my thoughts and insights gathered from happy times and sad times and most treasured of all to me, the quiet times shared with my mom.


I didn’t know my brothers and sisters when they were children because of when I was born into our family, so I cannot speak of their experiences of our mother as a mom. I can only write of my own.

My favourite time growing up was when, as a teenager, I was dropped from the yellow school bus that is a common fixture in Alberta’s rural landscape. Mom greeted me at the door to let me know that supper was nearly ready. Dad was generally already at the table reading the Western Producer or an auction flyer. The three of us spent hours together, over these critical years of my life, talking at the kitchen table. Mom and Dad were both generous with their time and for this I’m very grateful.

Mom did, at times, miss the mark when it came to her cooking. I remember one time she went on an experimenting spree in the gourmet section in a new cookbook—Dad and I were her guinea-pigs. There were raisins in rice, and it wasn’t rice pudding, and later in the evening Dad made us fried egg sandwiches. I wouldn’t put it past Mom if she didn’t join us in one of those sandwiches!

The most intimate times I had with my mom were when I returned home during my university years. We would both be ready for bed and Mom would wrap herself in a blanket and sit in the chair bedside my bed and we would talk until the small hours of the morning. We would catch up on family happenings, phone calls from McBey and Dumont relatives and the grandchildren’s concerts and skating galas she recently attended.

Many of these quiet times together, Mom shared her wisdom gained and life’s insights while soothing, at the time, my broken heart over a recently lost love or a grade I thought too low. These were trivial life events actually, but Mom’s words forever woven into the fabric of my life.

Mom also imparted her wisdom through silence – some of my best life lessons were learned by what Mom didn’t say. I guess like any good parent, she had the iron to let her child to go out into the world to make her own mistakes. Mom gave me roots and wings.

I had the privilege of having my life journey join for 44 years with Mom's journey.

To Aunty Emma family: It a sad thing to see that generation of Dad's family gone. Aunty had such a true to life sense of humor, she said "it as it was". We'll miss going to the "Rose Garden" with her for Chinese Food. We'll always have fond memories of visiting with her and having tea.
With Sincere Sympathy, Your Cousin, Laura and Wayne Howes

As part of my coming to terms with the events of the last few days, I thought I would sit and reflect on my life's shared journey with that of my mom's.

***

I didn’t know my brothers and sisters when they were children because of when I was born into our family, so I cannot speak of their experiences of our mother as a mom. I can only write of my own.

My favourite time growing up was when, as a teenager, I was dropped from the yellow school bus that is a common fixture in Alberta’s rural landscape. Mom greeted me at the door to let me know that supper was nearly ready. Dad was generally already at the table reading the Western Producer or an auction flyer. The three of us spent hours together, over these critical years of my life, talking at the kitchen table. Mom and Dad were both generous with their time and for this I’m very grateful.

Mom did, at times, miss the mark when it came to her cooking. I remember one time she went on an experimenting spree in the gourmet section in a new cookbook—Dad and I were her ‘guinea-pigs’. There were raisins in rice, and it wasn’t rice pudding, and later in the evening Dad made us fried egg sandwiches. I wouldn’t put it past Mom if she didn’t join us in one of those sandwiches!

The most intimate times I had with my mom were when I returned home during my university years. We would both be ready for bed and Mom would wrap herself in a blanket and sit in the chair bedside my bed and we would talk until the small hours of the morning. We would catch up on family happenings, phone calls from McBey and Dumont relatives and the grandchildren’s concerts and skating galas she recently attended.

Many of these quiet times together, Mom shared her wisdom gained and life’s insights while soothing, at the time, my broken heart over a recently lost love or a grade I thought too low. These were trivial life events actually, but Mom’s words forever woven into the fabric of my life.

Mom also imparted her wisdom through silence – some of my best life lessons were learned by what Mom didn’t say. I guess like any good parent, she had the ‘iron’ to let her child to go out into the world to make her own mistakes. Mom gave me “roots and wings.”

I am my mother's daughter,