Vera May Gilmour was born on October 4, 1922 and passed away on May 12, 2021 at the age of 98 years. She grew up 3 miles away from her husband Peter. They were married in Pathlow, SK on November 7, 1941.

Vera was in every inch a lady; she never cursed or said a bad word. She was a lady always. She loved to play cards, crib, games and crokanole with her   family any chance she got. She was always game to lend a helping hand; whether it was butchering chickens, doing garden work, picking strawberries or baking donuts. She loved going camping any chance she got. She would be happy just to be at the campground and see people come and go. Shannon spent lots of time with grandma and grandpa throughout the years. She was maybe four or five years old when she got locked inside the camper and grandpa and grandma got locked out. Grandpa had to crawl through the window to unlock the camper. Whether it was camping, going to the cabin or on trips down south to see the rest of her children, she enjoyed everything. She loved when Gordie, Shelley or Shannon would walk over to the apartment on their lunch breaks for a quick visit. Family was everything to her.

Grandma loved going to the fair and watching chuckwagon and chariot races and going to rodeos. She would spend endless hours watching the races and making nickel bets with the grandkids and great grandkids. Some how she always came out richer than everyone else; how she always picked the winning team of horses no one knows. Grandpa even bought her a cowboy hat for Christmas one year.

She loved her Melfort Mustangs and never missed a game. She would stand up and cheer on the boys whether she understood what was going on or not. When their fundraiser came around, she would bake pies for their fall supper.  All we had to do is mention a PA trip and she had her jacket on and purse around her neck and shoulder before you could even finish talking.

Grandma loved to make patchwork quilts.  She made sure that everyone got one. Grandpa would cut up squares for her and always said “you buy good material and cut it up into little squares and then turn around and sew it all back together again!!” Oh, the endless shopping for fortrel fabric. She pretty much had all the granddaughters trained to look at the clothing tags at every garage sale they went to. All those hours kneeling on the floor trying to make a pattern out of all the squares. Grandma loved to get a hold of any her grandkids ripped jeans and sew a patch on them. She hated holes in any clothing.

Grandma made awesome bread that no one could resist. She even baked a big batch and sent it down on the bus to Phillip and Louise. She loved making cakes and an assortment of baking for Christmas. There was an amazing variety in her freezers at all times waiting for her next company to arrive.

In 1984, Peter and Vera moved to Melfort and spent most of their free time out on their daughter’s farm with their family and 3 children. Whether she was in the strawberry patch or picking pails of peas and beans to bring into the house and made sure the grandkids had something to do when they came off the bus.   Endless jars of dill pickles and canning.

At least once a week there was a kitchen table and cupboard full of donuts ready to be fried or loaves of bread ready for the oven. She always made sure Gordie, Shelley and Shannon had school snacks and Gordon had bread for his sandwiches for in the field. Anything she could do to help out Judy on the farm. Grandma was always thinking of others and what they needed.

Grandma loved each and every one of her kids and grandkids equally.  She always had fun memories and stories to tell about each and everyone.  She always remembered birthdays and made sure she called.

Grandma was predeceased by her husband Peter (2012); oldest daughter Gladys (2017); brother George; five sisters: Bessy, Kathleen, Ella, Margaret, Mable.

Precious grandma leaves behind Gladys’ children: Karen (Eldon), Jeff (Pam), Kathy (Marcel), Lorna (Darren); son Phillip (Louise); Daughters: Judy (Gordon) and their children Gordie (Charlene), Shelley (Rod), Shannon (Cory); Doreen (Ray) and Doreen’s children: Lisa (Shawn), Paul (Jackie), numerous great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.

   From Gladys’ Family—We all have many fond memories of Grandma and each will be treasured    forever. Our Grandma could do it all – shop, if that’s what you wanted to do, bake like no one else and the patch quilts she made for each of us were sewn with so much love and care. But look out if you challenged her to an arm wrestle because she’d be the first to jump up to the table and take on a grandkid or great grandkid. Or get on her hands and knees under the table to chase and tickle someone else. Even at 90 she still got down on the floor to play with one of her great great grandkids. Amazing or what! She was the most kindhearted, loving, caring Grandma with a smile you never wanted to say goodbye to. Grandma, you will be forever missed and loved always.

From Cory & Shannon—Grams, thank you so much for everything that you have done for us over the years…The endless love and laughter. Millions of cherished memories. The goofy times we all shared. Oh, how Cory and I brought out the inner goofiness in you and Cory always got that pure genuine smile from you whenever the two of you were together. Two goofballs at heart. You are a huge part of our lives. Grandma…you will always be our favorite hello and hardest goodbye, Love you Grams.

A Family Celebration of Life Service was held from the Fedusiak Funeral Chapel, Melfort, on Friday, May 21, 2021 with Mrs. Carol Gzenda officiating.  The interment followed in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

Friends so wishing may make memorial contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association of Saskatchewan.

To leave condolences for the Family, please visit the online guestbook at www.fedusiakfuneralchapel.com.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Fedusiak Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, Melfort. (306)752-3838.

• Date : 2021-05-17
• Location : Arborfield, SK