Edna (Higgins) Clark

After a life well lived, Edna Clark passed away September 17, 2018, in Kindersley, SK.  Edna was born January 1, 1921 in Rosetown, SK. She was the first child of five born to Mabel and George (Tal) Higgins.

Edna grew up in Rosetown, attended Normal School in Saskatoon, and taught school for several years at D’Arcy and then Glenside, SK, where her ancestors had come to from New Brunswick in 1917. Edna continued her education at the University of Saskatchewan taking courses in the summer to upgrade to a permanent, and then a Standard A Teaching Certificate.

During a train ride home one weekend, she met Floyd Clark, who was stationed with the Air Force at Mossbank, SK. That summer Edna travelled to Toronto and found employment there until enlisting in the Canadian Women’s Army Corp and taking basic training at Kitchener, ON. Her brothers were stationed in or near Toronto and Floyd was stationed in Montreal, although he was often in Toronto.

Edna became an English Instructor for French speaking girls who had joined the army. Later she was one of twelve Canadian women sent to Washington, D.C. and eventually to Pacific Military Intelligence Research Centre at Camp Ritchie, near Baltimore, Maryland, where she did classified and translation work.  Interestingly, her roommate during that time was federal cabinet minister Judy LaMarsh.

Following discharge from the armed forces, Edna and Floyd Clark were married in Saskatoon in 1946 and moved to Driver, SK, where they lived during the summer.  Winters were spent in Prince Albert and Saskatoon, while Floyd completed his School of Agriculture diploma at the University of Saskatchewan.

Shortly thereafter, Edna and Floyd moved to their farm south of Driver, SK, where they resided until retiring to Kindersley in 1982. While on the farm, they raised a family of four daughters, Barbara, Linda, Sharon & Dawna.  As well, Edna taught at the Smiley Hutterite Colony, the Smiley School and then Coleville School.  She loved running into former students and having a little visit. 

Edna was active in many areas:  community activities, church events, curling, softball, cross country skiing, golfing, yoga and exercising.  She belonged to the Smiley and Kindersley UCW, Camera Club, Red Hats, Retired Teachers Assn, Kindersley Whirls & Twirls Square Dancing and Round Dancing Club, bowling league, Co-op Guild and the Seniors Club, which she led for many years.  Along the way, she actively participated in the lives of her grandchildren and great grandchildren, which was her biggest source of pride and joy until her final day. 

Edna and Floyd enjoyed travelling in Canada, the United States and Mexico, as well as to Scotland, Venezuela, and Spain when Barb’s family lived there.  After Floyd passed, Edna continued to travel with her family and friends and with the square dance, seniors’ and camera club groups.  If there was something happening, mom didn’t want to miss it!

In 2009 Edna was one of the first residents to move into Caleb Village and enjoyed the friendships and activities of her new home. Caleb was a welcoming environment for the whole family.

Edna’s door was always open to visitors and her home was the centre of many family and community gatherings. This past July the family held a reunion at the Kopp farm, where Edna was the guest of honor. Edna modeled a caring, nurturing and generous spirit, a helpful nature, a strong faith, an upbeat attitude, a commitment to responsibility, and the wisdom and fortitude to plan and look with optimism toward the future. It has not gone unnoticed. 

She is survived by her daughters Barbara (Roman) Trzaska, Linda (Bob) Wells, Sharon (Don) Kopp, and Dawna Gramlich, 10 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren, her sister Ruth Newitt, sister-in-law Lena Higgins, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Edna was predeceased by her husband Floyd in 1988, parents Mabel and George (Tal) Higgins, sister Lorna Anderson, brothers Keith and Bob Higgins, sisters-in-law Sylvia Higgins, Ruth Connor and Lois Clark, brothers-in-law Leyton Anderson, Copper Newitt, Ken Clark and Wilf Connor and mother-in-law Helen Clark.

Her funeral service, with Legion Tribute, was held Friday, September 29, 2018, at St. Paul’s United Church in Kindersley with Rev. Piotr Strzelecki officiating.  Eulogists were Rob Wells and Carter Gramlich.  The choir, with guests Ron and Cynthia Baker, sang a beautiful, personalized rendition of “Halleluiah.”  Pianist was Helen Barclay and Piper was Christopher MacDonald. Active pallbearers were Orest Trzaska, Trevor Wells, Michael Kopp, Richard Kopp, Christopher Gramlich and Robert Bailey.  Honorary pallbearers were all who shared in Edna’s life, most recently her Caleb friends.  Ushers were Kathi Bailey, Karen Trzaska and Kendra Bailey.

Internment took place in the Kindersley Cemetery with arrangements entrusted to the Kindersley Funeral Home. Donations in memory of Edna may be made to the Kindersley Aquatic Center, c/o Prairie Rose Floral & Gift, 400 Main Street, Kindersley, SK S0L 1S0.

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