Julia Pauline Simpso
December 21, 1919 – June 21, 2014
Julia Pauline Simpso (nee Pederson) who was born in Weldon, SK on December 21, 1919 and died in her sleep on June 21, 2014 at Mont St. Joseph’s, Prince Albert, SK where she had resided for the past six years. Although Julia could not remember people’s names and could not even remember having met them, due to having dementia, you could tell she had a special knowledge of you on another plane when she recognized those she liked. She lived in the past, where we believe she was at the happiest state in life (between 11 and 15 years of age). She always talked about her three older sisters, Alice, Hilda and Lillian. She didn’t mention the boys so much as they were little tykes at the time. She also had great respect for her mother and father and told stories about her parents’ yearly little holiday—picking blueberries. When Julia married Vern Simpso at the age of 20, they moved in with Vern’s parents/siblings. We believe this was difficult for her because she was quite shy at the time. Julia and Vern later moved into a small two room house where they raised five children until approximately 1950. They then moved to Wainwright for awhile and later back to Prince Albert at which time Julia took the responsibilty of running the auto trailer court North of town located near the Pines Drive In Theatre. It wasn’t too long after this that due to family discord, Vern left Julia and children and moved to BC. Life was not easy for Julia, raising five children by herself. In those years, social assistance was not used so rampantly, and Julia figured she had to fend for herself by working as a waitress, first at the Empress Hotel where she had a split shift and had to catch the bus from 17th Avenue West four times every day, except for Sundays. Then, after her kids grew up, she went to work at the Holiday Inn/camp named Sunwapta which was located between Banff and Jasper, AB. She then moved to BC and worked as a cook at the lumber camp. When she had problems with arthritis in her hands, she had to stop working in the kitchen. She was close to 65 and was able to move into one of the Elk’s Senior Homes where she was close to her grandchildren, whom she babysat whenever she was needed. She loved making goodies to send home with them. Especially Peanut Butter cookies (by the gallon) for Darcy and Armand. She also had a garden space in her backyard, which she got all fixed up for planting a garden. Ask Ruth how many loads of manure she and Herman had to haul. Then, she needed to have a fence surrounding it, so dogs and kids could not destroy anything. Again, Ruth and Herman were called upon to make the fence. As dementia moved into Julia’s life, there were a few people who took advantage of her financially and one of them was actually threatening her. Because of safety issues, and some other medical problems, she was forced into moving into a care home. Fortunately for her, Allison Nagy was able to place her at Mont St. Joseph’s where, in our opinion, she had the best of care; and the high spirits and kindess of staff created the “new” Julia where she was a happy, spunky teenager again. Julia will be lovingly remembered by her daughters: Ruth Lovestead, Dorothy Topping and Anne Lillemoen; her 16 grandchilren, 18 great-grandchildren, her 6 great-great-grandchildren and her 2 brothers: Henry of British Columbia and Olaf Pederson of Weldon, SK. Julia was predeceased by her parents: Peder & Jenny Pederson, her 3 sisters, her 1 brother, her daughter Irene J., her son Roy and 2 grandsons. In lieu of other tributes, donations may be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association- Saskatchewan Division http://www.diabetes.ca 104, 2301 Avenue C North, Saskatoon, SK S7L 5Z5 or The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada- 'Fighting Blood Cancers' http://www.lls.org/canada 2020 10 St NW, Calgary, AB, T2M 3M2. A Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 – 3:00 pm, MacKenzie Chapel, 130 9th St. E, Prince Albert, SK. Arrangements in care of MacKenzie Chapel & Crematorium. Brian and Bev Stobbs, Funeral Directors. 306.763.8488 www.MacKenzieChapel.ca

• Date : 2014-06-21 06:00:00
• Location : Prince Albert, SK