"Make sure you show up for New Years Day for supper. Small gathering, about 50"

"Paul, I am stuck on the bottom". Me-Again? "Yes, it is my new specialty!"

"I think we should head to shore as I have to pee". Me-Again? My Mom. "Mee too!" Shirley"I could go too"
Me: I had no idea you three could synch your bladders!

"Paul, I am stuck on the bottom". Me-How long? Since Bill dropped the anchor." Me "That was 15 minutes ago!" Yes, I am teasing the fish!"

"How many fish are being cleaned for supper? Me-think 30. "Small snack, your Mom and I will get ready you pick the beans from the garden and we will have Fish and Green/Yellow beans for supper". Nothing else? "Onions for Bill". That was a standard over the years.

Me: Bar is open what shall it be? "Vudka and clamato today". How about Vodka and Clamato? "You want to eat supper tonight?"

Late September, doing homework at Camp in their trailer away from the noise of the main camp.
Bill - "Think you need a bit of heat, turned o the heater for ya" Thanks! 10 minutes later. Frenchie. "Think you should have a snack, first cupboard some cookies to tie you over". I might add, 36 homemade cookies. 

After Midnight Mass, feasting at the Hayes Household. 
Frenchie, how many meat pies did you make for this? Only 12 for tonight, why? are we running short?

While exploring a place for me to live as I started Wilfrid Laurier University.
"Paul, you are definitely not going to be in Skead in all of this!"

"Can you reach that dish for me on the top shelf?" Hold on and I will get you a ladder! "No desserts for you tonight"

At my Dad's visitation.
"Come with me, you need a break" and grabbing my hand we went for a short walk, saying little but grateful for the intervention. She just always knew. 

She was intuitive as to how you were feeling. You could hide nothing from her. She had a special radar which detected instantly, a lie and she gently let you know to rephrase your answer. Never too many people at the house or BBQ or Camp to feed. Always a way to make everyone happy. Once I was having trouble pronouncing a word in English for a Science Exam and she told me not to worry cause she couldn't pronounce it in French. 

She was funny. She let you know when you stepped over the line. She laughed and more than once, at camp, I saw her cry. She forgot nothing but I don't recall her ever holding a grudge. She had her opinions, not always did I agree but that was okay. "We can't all see things the same way but it would be easier if you just saw it the way I do". 

I was one of the many, so very many, who she and Bill adopted as one of their own. We all have our special memories of our experiences with her. Her anonymous generosity almost legendary. Like her Irish Husband and best friend, she had a temper but you knew best not to stir the nest. And that was fine because she was so consistent. Her dedication to Bill, her faith, love of family, dedication to lifelong friends, all so very much her and Bill. She will never be gone. She will live in so many of us by her actions and mannerisms. I catch a few of her influences in my daily life and laugh. 

To Bill and her family, extended family, and friends, we mourn the passing and we will with time celebrate the life when the tears subside.  

Paul