Sarah E. Mulvihill

MULVIHILL, SARAH ELIZABETH (Bette) née DANE

After a very long good-bye, our mom finally climbed aboard the Glory Train.  Waiting to be reunited with his Sarah Elizabeth, we’re sure our dad, Conductor Frosty, was pacing the platform, eagerly awaiting her arrival at Heaven’s railway station.  Dad departed on a much earlier train, leaving us exactly 24 years ago to the day of Mom’s passing.

Born to William and Elsie Dane, Mom grew up in Beaverton, Ontario, with her twin sister, Lee, and 4 brothers, Bill, Harold, Gord, and Jim, all of whom pre-deceased her.  She met Frosty (Faustus), formerly of Uptergrove, Ontario, when he and his brother came to board at her parents’ house.  Frosty was smitten from the start and made sure his brother knew that Mom was going to be the target of his affections.  Love bloomed and they were married in April 1951.

Married life began in the northern railroad town of Hornepayne, Ontario where Dad was, by then, employed as a CNR trainman.  Mom has always maintained that she fell in love with her new home the minute she stepped off the train.  She quickly adapted to the life of a railroader's wife and learned to be resourceful and self-reliant.  They were overjoyed to welcome twins Lee-Anne and Tom into their world the following year.  Five years later, Susan came along, and it was around that time our family moved to Murphy Lane, where the coffee was always hot, and the street was always teeming with kids.  It was a tight knit neighbourhood, where someone was always ready to help if a need arose such as thawing frozen waterlines, scaring off bears, shoveling snow, and grabbing each other’s laundry off the clothesline if rain threatened.

As is the way in isolated towns, Mom was very community minded.  She served in many different volunteer capacities over the decades, throwing her support behind the library, the hospital, the Cancer Society, many fundraising drives, and all the town’s churches.  A lifetime member of the United Church Women, mom worked tirelessly alongside her equally devoted fellow members baking countless pies, working at countless banquets, and crafting year-round in anticipation of Grace United’s Christmas bazaars.  Her cloth Molly Dolls were hotly sought after and delighted little girls far and wide.  Recently a Molly Doll even returned to Mom after 50 odd years!  Mom also enjoyed many pleasant hours of fellowship around a quilting frame with her friends.  She taught for a time at Holy Name of Jesus School.  Flower gardening gave her enormous joy and her yard was a sight to behold in the short northern summers.  She also shared her time and talent in the community gardens.  Winter meant X-Country skiing on Buttercup Trails, and summer brought camping trips with Dad.

Many trips were made out West to visit Lee-Anne and Tom (Louise) and their broods, and frequent visits to southern Ontario kept her and Dad in touch with Susan (Peter) and their kids.  Mom was very proud to be grandmother to 9 grandchildren:  Melanie (Mark), Patrick (d.), Maggie, Matthew, Robin (Tony), Jeff (Andrea), Brady (Gillian), Caitlin (Josh), and Buck.  She was further delighted to be a great gramma to Matt, Noah, Ty, Tim, Emmy, Jonah and Micah.

We are all heartbroken, but happy to reflect on Mom’s full life.  As she moved through her 80’s, she began to slow down and found herself on the receiving end of her community’s compassion and generosity of spirit.  We will be forever grateful to all the townsfolk who helped her live independently as long as she did.  Mom moved to Barrie in 2017 and spent the last 6 years at Victoria Village Manor.  Again, she was blessed to be cared for by dedicated, professional and compassionate staff, entertained by wonderful volunteers, and spiritually nourished by various local churches who provide weekly services.  We cannot thank you enough.  Please know that all of you make a profound difference in the twilight years of all the dear people you serve.
 

At some future date we will mark Mom’s passing with a gathering of family and friends.  Her ashes will be interred with Dad in Hornepayne in due course.  Should anyone wish to honour Mom, please perform an act of kindness or two and keep community spirit alive wherever you live.
 

We love you Mom – we'll see you in the sweet by and by.