SeanFromCanada's Blog

Jan 25,2013

My Grandma Halliday died on January 24, 2013. She was 105. She went peacefully, on her own timeline. Her terms…as they always were.

Canadian girl. She made her home and raised her family in Winnipeg. And at the cabin, Lake of the Woods.

She played with her Great-Granddaughter Phoebe, when we spent time with her on December 6th. I’m so happy to have those memories. We truly had a fantastic visit.

I feel proud of her. I respect the way she lived her life. She was strong and smart, and she took care of herself. She expected a lot of herself, and those around her, yet she was always so much fun to have around. She had a great smile and a wonderful laugh.

When I was 15, my Grandpa Halliday died. That was in 1985… It was a long time ago, yet my Grandma pressed on. She made new friends, as old ones passed. And they all did.

I’d see her about four times a year for the longest time, because badminton would bring me to Winnipeg often. My cousin and I would arrange to meet at the cabin in the summer when we were teenagers, and we’d convince her to chaperone us because someone had to be there. She’d go every time. She’d sit in the screen house and watch us swim, boat, fish and fight. She loved being out at the cabin.

Dorothy Halliday was always healthy. Sure, she caught colds like everyone else…but she had her systems, her rhythms and she just kept on going. I remember comparing the vitamins we each took when I was 26, and we were taking the same things – a multi, calcium and vitamin C.

She’d attend the theatre once a month, and bought her own groceries until she was 105! She preferred dinner in the senior’s dinning room where she lived, but she made her own breakfast and lunch most days. And she wore blue jeans late into her 90’s, walking without a cane.

In November (of 2012) she fell and broke her hip. A surgeon drilled a screw in, and her bones held. It was unbelievable to see her using her walker three weeks later – I couldn’t even tell which hip she’d broken. I took some video I was so astounded.

Above all this, what was really remarkable about my Grandma, was her mind. Her hearing was poor when I was boring…talking about the weather or saying something about sports, but whenever I caught her ear with something interesting, she was fully in. No problem with her hearing – valuable thoughts and observations spilled from her lips every time.

The Halliday cabin in Clear Water Bay, is something deeply special to everyone in our family. My Grandma and Grandpa built the first place when my Dad was 10. I grew up there in the summers. I’ve gone there ever since. I was glad my Grandma made it out to the cabin for her 100th birthday, and that our family was all together that day. People came from all over the lake to wish her well – she was so well liked and loved by all.

I’m glad to know she’s with my Grandpa now, 27 years is a long time. I’m sure they’re pleased to see each other again, and I find peace in the thought.

I will miss my Grandma. She was a true inspiration.