Sunday, July 27, 2014
Having the privilege of being a friend of her daughter, Elaine, I have a lifetime of
memories of Bessie. As a child I enjoyed invitations to the Townshend home. Elaine and I would play together and never get into trouble ,due more to Bessie's patience than our good behaviour. Special indeed were the trips when Bessie drove us down the cutline to the beach. She gave me an old swimsuit of Mary's since I didn't own one .When trips from SS No. 5 to other schools for baseball games or music festival rehearsals came up, Bessie made herself available as chauffeur. She loved to drive but continually taking on a carload of exuberant children was above and beyond duty. Bessie was the epitome of the Porter's Hill farmwife as she laboured tirelessly in barn, field, kitchen or community. As I aged Bessie's interest in my life never faltered;caring about me to the extent of offering me meals with her at Huronview in case I had missed supper at home.
Bessie is now an angel .She always was to me.
