Obituary of Laura Wilde

WILDE, Laura "Fidge" Glenda Passed away peacefully at the age of 71 on December 6, 2011 surrounded by her loving family at her residence in Kettle & Stony Point First Nation. She will be sadly missed by her family and the community as a whole. Predeceased by her parents Bruce and Hilda George and her husband Floyd Alexander Wilde (1975). Loving mother of Floyd Wilde & Fran Evrard of Sarnia, Vaughn & Laura Jean Wilde of Warwick Twp., John & Carlene Mennen of Port Franks, Carl & Jackie Wilde of Kettle & Stony Point First Nation and Guy Wilde & Jill Jackson of Kettle & Stony Point First Nation. Fidge will be sadly missed by 19 grandchildren , 6.5 great grandchildren and many nephews, nieces, extended family members and very close friends. She will be sadly missed by her beloved and devoted friend Howard Sheppard of Kettle & Stony Point and by her loving sistas and brothers; Bonnie & Fred Bressette, Sue & Roy Webster, Bruce & Alberta George, Marshall & Janet George and Janice & Roy Issac. Visitation will be held at the FOREST CHAPEL of DENNING FUNERAL DIRECTORS on Friday, December 9th, 2011 from 2-4pm and 7-9pm. Funeral Service will be held at the Kettle Point Community Centre on Saturday, December 10th, 2011 at 11am with interment to follow at Kettle Point Cemetery. Donations to the Red Cross, Sarnia Lambton VON or the Victorious Faith Fellowship Church in Kettle and Stony Point would be appreciated by the family. Donations and condolences may be left online at www.denningfuneralhome.com Fidge The life Story of a Truly Remarkable Woman Fidge was born Laura Glenda George to Bruce and Hilda George, on February 9th 1940, on the Stony Point Indian Reserve. She was raised with great fond memories with brothers Bruce (Chub), and Marshall (Hook) and "sistas" Bonnie, Sue, and Janice. Early in life, Mom made 'family' a very important part of her being. Mom married Floyd Wilde at the tender age of 16. Over the next eight years, she gave birth to five children; Floyd (Junior), Vaughn, Carlene, Carl and Guy. Family meals after Sunday school, for birthdays, and holidays were always so important for Mom, and she always made sure there was plenty for any visitors (many who seemed to know just when to 'drop in'). Mom made "Sunday dinner" for anyone who dropped in. She always loved when we all got together. The room would be filled with laughter as we all shared stories, and good natured teasing. Mom would tell us this was her 'best time ever.' Mom loved the sound of laughter. Mom was an active member of the Kettle Point United church where she was a Sunday school teacher and helped organize the 'Christmas pageant'. In the fall, she became the 'camp cook' letting us commandeer her kitchen table to plan the days hunt, knowing that when we returned there would be a warm delicious meal awaiting us and plenty of time to make up excuses for the day's 'misses'. Alex needed the most excuses Mom kept busy, always finding some way to earn an income, grasping any opportunity that came up. Cooking, cleaning in private homes, motels, restaurants and anywhere else her boundless energy could be put to good use. She worked with her family, for 'bog' farmers all the way from Thedford to Grand Bend. Many happy memories were made there with countless stories of babies sleeping in and under baskets while parents worked and harvested the plentiful vegetables that grew there. And yet, even after a long day's work, mom would go home and cook a full meal for her family. In September 1975, Dad's life ended suddenly. Mom was left alone to raise her five children. Denied any 'government' assistance this amazing woman took on more jobs to make ends meet. Among these was as a cook at the 'army camp' (camp Ipperwash) and at the main gate of the Pinery provincial park; anyone who worked with `Fidge,' would gladly share abundant funny stories about her antics and accidents. Then mom got her first real break. She became the first Liaison worker, acting as an agent between the Children's aid and the now Kettle and Stony Point First Nation. With her financial worries addressed by a fair, steady income, her focus shifted to her community. She would take this task and make it flourish and expand. She saw the chance to help those in need. She saw to it that anyone that needed help got it! She helped people in all aspects of their lives, regardless of their need; she found some way to help. A shoulder to cry on, food, clothing; it didn't daunt her. If money was the problem, mom would organise a 'taco sale' to raise funds. She developed some amazing ideas to raise funds. (I think she may have invented the term fundraiser!) One of which was 'bingos' at the Community centre, with her cohorts Sharon and Coff; often wrapping up there to run off to Sarnia to play the 10:00 o'clock game themselves. With funds available they undertook to help the youth in the community. Sending the K&SP hockey teams to the 'little NHL' (Native Hockey League), buying meals and equipment to ensure every child had the opportunity. Mom and her co-workers planned and revived the annual Kettle Point PowWow; running it for many, many years, growing it into one of the best in Ontario with a reputation as the best grounds, food and organizers around. She became adept at recruiting volunteers too. In fact if you happened to walk by when she needed something done you were it. Her family (immediate and extended can all attest to this) were sometimes tempted to make them-selves scarce when she was on a mission! She was instrumental in starting the KP Santa Clause parade and Craft sale that is now a tradition. She envisioned an athletic competition, inspired by the world Olympics; she invited another local reserve to compete. In no time word spread and the Southern First Nations "Native Youth Olympics" were born She started the 'coats for kids' campaign on the reserve and countless other programs, all simply designed to improve the community she loved so much. She was involved in countless community programs and events - like jamborees, plays, and concerts. When young, would be dancers, need encouragement, mom saw to it that they had regalia and the opportunity to learn the dance style of choice from experienced dancers. Often having "classes" in her back yard to the ghetto-blaster music of Eagleheart and other Drums on CD Mom was also an entrepreneur, opening a craft store where she sold flower arrangements, crafts, firewood and of course - cigarettes. Mom would make the wreaths for Remembrance Day ceremonies, and go to different first nations to teach the art. Mom was awarded the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of Canada for being recognised as making significant contributions to Canada, to her community, to her fellow Canadians. Mom also received the Aboriginal Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to her First Nation community Mom also graduated from the First Nations Technical Institute (FNTI) with her degree in Community Social Work Mom became quite the traveller. First it was off to workshops, then vacations - Mom and Sharon would criss-cross Canada and the States and return home with an arsenal of crazy stories with pictures and the odd scratch to prove it. She would always laugh when reminiscing of their 'misad', I mean adventures. I think we all know of Mom's love of flowers and crafts. She could make the most amazing, beautiful arrangements with the simplest of things - she had an eye to show how a plain object when blended with complimenting "like" pieces, can create a beautiful creation. This is how Mom saw life. At Hillside School graduation ceremonies, she made sure each and every grade 8'er received a boutonniere or corsage to make this occasion special for them (free or charge of course). Somewhere along the line, a running joke between her and 'Jer' of "the Eagle" radio, she was ordained the "Queen" of Kettle Point. Mom was actively involved with school programs at Hillside; be it making crafts, telling stories or making cookies for the kids to take home. Mom and her little helper, Jayden, would always make cookies at special times of the year to distribute through-out the classrooms. On one such occasion, Mom was asked to tell some stories of Christmas time when she was a little girl. She reflected the smells, the laughter and joyof her family. The next thing you know Mom starts to get choked up and the tears started flowing. Could you imagine the looks on the little kid's faces? A week later they sent Mom a thank you card, each student asking how she is doing and that they hope she isn't sad anymore. Mom was a shop-a-holic - be it a yard sale , thrift shop , bargain shop , hardware store or a snooty boutique, Mom loved it. Picking up this and that with a smile on her face - I think it was because she could see the smile on the intended receiver's face. But yard sale-ing with Mom just wasn't right - she would not dicker - like what is the sense of going if you don't dicker - that was half the fun. Instead she would give what they asked for and sometimes told them to keep the change. And usually she shopped for everyone else - very seldom did she buy something for herself. If you had the pleasure of taking her yard saleing, you'd better be ready to stop on a dime, because if she saw a treasure as you were driving up, she'd be out of the car before it stopped. 11 years ago, Mom met Howard. Howard was the best thing to happen to Mom in a long time. They had laughs together, went on trips together - a lot of short ones that stopped in Sarnia (they claimed it was for the pretty lights and dinging bells): Some farther afield, to the East coast and south of the border too. Theirs was a special friendship - an everlasting friendship that one can only dream of. Howard was the love and joy that her children could not attempt to give. He became her crutch, her sounding board- and oh yeah-when she couldn't drive; her chauffeur. As life went on, Mom quietly managed her diabetes, being diagnosed 25 years ago, she underwent a quadruple heart bypass, which is where with the help of morphine, Mom learned the art of smoking bananas; and 9 years ago was declared legally blind, which was when she lost her driving privileges and her mobile freedom. In September of this year, with a smile on her face, Mom announced "I made my last payment. My home is paid for". We celebrated by dining out at McPherson's. In early November, Mom was diagnosed with peritoneal cancer. Mom did not want to stay in the hospital - citing the soup was not fit for human consumption. We took Mom home and tried to make her as comfortable as possible. Mom still had big plans - she was going to smoke a cigarette on her 80th birthday, and for her 90th - a bottle of beer. She loved all the phone calls, visits from family and friends, the gospel singers who brought the "church" to her. Mom quietly and peacefully went to sleep on December 6th, 2011 surrounded by her family Mom was a proud person, not of herself, but of her community, of her family, of her friends. She was proud of that person's achievements, of the newborn baby's parents, or of the youngster who caught his first ever fish at the fishing derby. Mom was a proud person, proud of all the people making a difference, proud of all the lasting friendships she made in her work, in her community involvement and in her daily life. Mom was a proud person, and she would not want you to shed a tear in her passing - but smile, laugh, and remember her for who she was - her crazy sense of humour, her loving kindness and her heartfelt generosity. Mom was a proud person, not of herself, but of life itself and the love she gave of freely. Mom, we are proud of you, for who you are and all you stood for. We will always remember you and all the things you taught us. The family would like to sincerely thank the H&CC program and all the VON Nurses, Red Cross, RN's and PSW's who helped us to make Mom's last days more comfortable and manageable. Special thanks to Scott, Bobby Jo, Sharon, Viola, Willa, Lana, Louise and the staff at the Assisted Living Facility, and especially to all those cousins, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters and friends who visited and made Mom's last days memorable. Thanks also to Murray Shawnoo and the Victorious Faith Fellowship. Also thank you to All of our friends whose collective prayers were surely herd by the creator, allowing moms dignified and gentle passing.