Obituary of Edna Selbie-Eamer

SELBIE-EAMER: Edna Anne Christine Selbie-Eamer (née Larson) of Brandon passed away peacefully at home on November 17th, 2013 at the age of 86 years thus drawing to its conclusion, a long, accomplished, happy and meaningful life. Edna was born on November 10th, 1927 on the family farm at Hilltop, near Erickson, MB, which had been homesteaded by her Swedish grandparents in 1887. Her beloved parents, Emil and Emmy Larson (née Skoglund), raised Edna, her sister Florence and her brothers, Lawrence, Roger, Gerry and Delmar on a generous diet of faith, love and hard work. Edna attended Hilltop Baptist – the church erected by her grandparents and their neighbours on land donated by her grandfather. She studied at Hilltop School and Erickson Public School. Upon graduating, she undertook a year of "permit teaching" at one-roomed Scandanavia School, not far from home but where the oldest student was only six months younger than she. A single paycheque for the whole year finally arrived a month after the end of term. The proceeds of Edna's teaching career, as brief as it was, nonetheless allowed her to complete secretarial and bookkeeping courses at Brandon's Wheat City Business College and subsequently secure employment at The Codville Company Wholesale Grocers. In 1951, she married Brandon native and RCAF veteran James (Jim) Still Selbie. Together, they built a home on Richmond Avenue West alongside those of other veterans who had been granted land in appreciation of their service. Son James, and daughter Jacqueline, completed their family. Edna and Jim worked hard to be good providers – Jim at the Department of Highways and Edna in a lengthy succession of interesting and increasingly challenging jobs. At times she held two, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Especially notable were stints as office manager for the Brandon College and YMCA building fund-raising campaigns and as executive secretary for the Brandon organizing committees for the Canadian and Manitoba Centennial celebrations. Edna also worked in the local office of the National Film Board during which time her children and neighbours looked forward to Friday evenings when she would often step off the bus with a projector and an armload of NFB films to be shown to one and all in the Selbie basement cinema. Edna never allowed her work life to impinge upon family life – she was always "there" for her husband and children, be it as a parent volunteer, a curling partner, a holiday planner or a participant in happy gatherings at the farm with the Larsons, or Sandy Lake with the Selbies. After Jim's sudden untimely death in 1973, Edna, now a single parent, further upgraded her skills and began a new full-time career as a Court Reporter and Special Examiner until 1991 and continuing as an Examiner until 1996. She considered her service in the Brandon judicial community the high point in her professional life and left it with much respect for and from its members at all levels. In 1982, Edna married Reginald (Reg) Victor Eamer. In their 31 years together, Edna and Reg enjoyed a particularly rich quality of life which they shared generously with all the members of their large blended family and with their myriad friends. They travelled extensively throughout North America and Europe. At home, they diligently assisted the good works of the Brandon Shrine Club. For many years, Edna appeared as a clown at the Brandon Shrine Circus helping to raise money in support of the Shriners' Children's Hospital. "Eamer's Corner", their Wasagaming cottage, was the source of many a fond and enduring memory, especially for their grandchildren. Edna was a charter member of P.E.O. Chapter R Brandon and kept her P.E.O. sisters close to her heart always. She was also a member of Knox United Church, the John Howard and Elizabeth Fry Society, the Royal Canadian Legion, Quota International, the Ladies of the Brandon and District Shrine Club and, the Ladies Auxiliary of 502 Wing RCAF Association. She was a voracious reader from earliest childhood and was addicted to cross-word puzzles and Coronation Street. Edna will be remembered with profound love, affection and gratitude by her family and friends for her wonderful contributions to their own lives and, as such, for her many virtues – certainly for her steady professionalism in the workplace, her constant good nature and her unwavering commitment to the well-being of others - but perhaps none more than the capaciousness of her heart. She was utterly devoted to her family; her grandchildren's biggest fan; gave each of her nieces and nephews good reason to believe they were her favourite; and, was true and loyal to all her friends. In addition to her husband Reg, Edna is survived by her son James (Anne) Selbie and grandchildren Elizabeth, James and Olivia; daughter, Jacquie (Bryan) Johnson and grandchildren Wayne and Crystal; her sister Florence (Fred) Swiscoski; brothers Gerry (Marilyn) Larson, Del (Nora) Larson, sister-in-law Leona Smith, sister-in-law Colleen Wasson and her many "favourite" nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents and by her brothers Roger Larson, and the Reverend Lawrence Larson and his wife Ruth; and, by her first husband James Still Selbie, sister-in-law Elizabeth (May) Maddess and brother-in-law William (Bud) Selbie. She is also survived by Reg's daughter Deb Berkan (Wayne Ellchuk) and grandchildren Jared, Hayli and Jadrian; son, Alfred (Jan) Eamer and grand-daughters Tara, BrieAnne and Leah; daughter, Linda (Ken) Davies; daughter, Brenda (David) Ash-Kevill and grandchildren Tyler, Courtney and Brittany; and son, Darrell (Dori) Eamer and grand-daughter Brooklyn. There are also five great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her brother-in-law George Eamer and his wife Carol. A memorial service will be held for Edna at Knox United Church, Brandon at 2:00 pm on December 6th. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Manitoba P.E.O. Foundation Fund (c/o The Winnipeg Foundation, 1350 - One Lombard Place, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 0X3) or to a charity of choice.