Nipawin war bride celebrates 100th birthday

Frances and her late husband, Richard “Dick” Stevens, built a life together in Nipawin after meeting during the war. Dick, a longtime Legion member who was honoured for his military service, predeceased her in 2020 after more than 70 years of marriage. Their connection to the Legion and Remembrance Day traditions remains strong within the family.

Having lived in Nipawin since 1945, the couple witnessed decades of change and became deeply rooted in the community. Today, Frances stands as one of the last links to that wartime generation locally, having outlived her peers and many loved ones.

Despite her age, Frances remains active and independent, continuing to tend to her daily routines at home. While acknowledging she’s “old,” she said she doesn’t feel it and still has goals ahead of her, including seeing her great-grandson graduate this year.

“She told me back when my son was in Pre-K that she was going to live long enough to see him walk across the stage,” Hoppe added.

Her family describes her as resilient and content, celebrating the remarkable legacy of a life well lived.

“When Grandma came over, she said it was like a complete 180 from where she lived in England. They had indoor plumbing, and their winters weren’t freezing cold. She said there were a few times where she thought, what am I doing here, but at the same time, she made it work, and she did what she needed to do,” Hoppe continued.

“The biggest thing is she was always busy. She never sat down very well, but she always had time for family. Growing up, if my sister and I ever needed to talk, we would just go see Grandma. Even when my daughter was younger, we’d go over and have a tea and crumpets, as they called it, which was iced tea and cookies. We would sit and visit, because grandma always had time for everything.”

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

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by Ben Tompkins

Nipawin war bride celebrates 100th birthday

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