Obituary of Elsie Joyce Clark
March 26, 1926 - Castle Farm Cottages, England
July 28, 2023 - Calgary, Alberta
Elsie Joyce Clark (nee Divall) was born in Castle Farm Cottages, Hartfield, England. She passed away on Wednesday, July 28, 2023 at the age of 97 years four months and two days.
Elsie was predeceased by her husband of 51 years, Edward Charles Clark (August 1, 1990). She is survived by her oldest son Trevor, daughter Maureen (George), and youngest son Ian (Jill); grandchildren Vincent, Timothy, Kimberley, Hollie, Mackenzie, and Greg; great-grandchildren, Zachery, Beth, Dawn, Logan, Dean, Naomi, Camille, Henry, Geneva and Lucy.
After visiting Canada in 1969, Elsie moved to Canada in 1970 with her husband and children in search of a better life. After surviving World War II with all the rationing of food and tremendous bombing, she married Ed in 1949. Trevor was born in 1951 followed by Maureen in 1953. Ian was born in 1963. Once settled in Canada, she was a generous homemaker. She became a Canadian Citizen in 1976 and worked as a cafeteria supervisor for the Calgary Board of Education, retiring in 1990. Elsie enjoyed camping with family in the travel trailer, cooking, playing a friendly game of Uno (you have no friends in Uno!), and visiting with friends and relatives. She also loved gardening and had a pet dog Puffy that she adored.
When living on her own got to be too much, she was admitted into assisted living residences starting with Bethany and then settling into the George Boyak. The staff at George Boyak were so welcoming that Elsie was an instant addition. She enjoyed the games and activities that were provided and helped with folding up dish clothes and being active with social events.
The last few years were difficult as she was suffering from several physical ailments. Elsie will be dearly missed by her family and all that knew her. She was always putting a smile on people’s faces with her English expressions like, “ I’m as old as me tongue and a little bit older than me teeth” and “ It’s better than a smack on the belly with a wet fish!” and handing my dad a sandwich and saying, “There, that’ll keep your pecker up!”
A small family gathering is being organized in memory of Elsie. Those wanting to attend please call Ian at 825-735-2353. To be held on Saturday, August 5, 2023, at 1:00 p.m.