Mildred Veronica Gavel
1918-2018
The family of Mildred Veronica Gavel mourn her passing on
December 13,2018,
at the R.K. MacDonald Nursing Home,
Antigonish, at the age of 100 years.
Born June 22,1918, in Cape Jack, she was the fourth child of
Charles and Catherine Brow.
On August 29,1939 she married Arthur Charles Gavel followed
by the births of 13 children whom they raised together until the
untimely death of her beloved Art on January 30,1972.
A woman of devout faith she attended Mass and contributed to
the support of
the Catholic Church right up to the time of
her death. For many years, she and her children distributed the Sacred
Heart Messenger and collected for the Penny-a-Meal Campaign. She was
an avid member of Club 60 for many years, donating several home-made
quilts for raffle, selling most of the tickets herself.
With 13 children to nourish, she was an accomplished cook.
The aroma of homemade baked bread filled her home at least twice a
week. It seemed daily she made bread or pastries, and the aroma would
fill the house when we arrived home from school. Her children would
often be accompanied by neighbourhood friends who got to share in her
bounty. They were always welcome. She could cook any kind of wild game
and made rabbit pies that were devoured with relish by
all.
She was a talented seamstress and made much of the clothing
for her children at home. Each fall she would order bolts of gabardine
cloth to make snowsuits that were the envy of fellow students at
school. She made prom dresses for many of her children and
grandchildren who wore them with pride.
Her favourite form of relaxation was cribbage, which she
taught her children to play at a very early age and would slip in a
game or two whenever she could find a break in a hectic day of raising
thirteen children. Even at the age of 100 years she could play a
competitive game and was delighted when she would win.
After becoming widowed and upon the last child leaving the
nest, she became an active traveler visiting her children across
Canada, the United States, and even Europe. Her favorite expression
was “if you have the money I have the time”.
She is survived by nine children: Budd (Mae), Allister
(Renata), Kenneth (Donna), Jane, Charles (Eileen), Brenda (Laurel),
Cathy (Bernie), Leo (Cindy), and Mary (Dave). Daughters-in-law, Mary
Catherine and Carolyn; also 26 Grandchildren and 21
great-grandchildren. She is also survived by sister Martha, brother
Raymond and sisters-in-law Eleanor, Leona and Cecelia.
She was pre-deceased by sons Edward, Arnold ,and John;
daughter, Carroll; and daughter-in-law, Helen; siblings, Helena,
Althena, Hubert, Emmanuel, Edward, Bertha (infant),Francis(infant),
Adrian, and Cyril.
The family would like to extend a very special thank-you to
the staff at the R.K. MacDonald for the beyond-the-call-of-duty care
and attention shown to “Moma” in so many ways. She was
always very appreciative of your love and kindness.
Visitation will be held Monday from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm in C.L.
Curry Funeral Home, 135 College Street, Antigonish. Flowers welcome.
Funeral Mass Tuesday in St. Ninian Cathedral at 11:00am, Fr. Gary
MacPherson presiding. Burial in the parish cemetery.
In Memoriam, donations to the Heart & Stroke
Foundation appreciated. Online condolences: www.clcurry.com
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Mildred Veronica Gavel 19182018..
Source:c.l.curry funeral services
Death notice for the town of: Antigonish, Province: Nova Scotia