EDITH KELLEY

1935 - 2013

Edith Kelley passed away peacefully in her daughters arms in Bow Island on Sunday, January 6, 2013 at the age of 77 years.
Relatives and friends were invited to meet with the family at June and Cyril Ell’s residence, 326 - 3 Avenue East, Bow Island on Saturday, January 12, 2013 between 4:00 P.M. and 9:00 P.M.
Edith is survived by her daughter June (Cyril) Ell of Bow Island; son Wayne (Susan) Christensen of Tulsa, Oklahoma; four grandchildren Nicole Ell (Casey Deline), Ryan Ell, Brandon Christensen, Lauren Christensen and one precious great granddaughter Emily Deline. She is also survived by four sisters Giesela Jepsen, Anne Skirl, Vibeke Friis and Pia Ravn all of Denmark; numerous nieces and nephews and many special friends she collected over her lifetime. Edith will be missed by her beloved dog Poppy.
She was predeceased by her parents Johannes and Inge-Marie (nee Petersen) Ravn, sister Thea Larsen, brother Conrad Ravn and an infant son Danny, who passed away before he came home from the hospital.
Edith was born on June 5, 1935 in Marstrup, Denmark. She had many stories of growing up during WWll. Edith and her siblings Thea and Conrad, spent many years in an orphange as the war was ending and they all left from there to start their lives. Edith met Jens Christensen in 1955 and they were married in February 1956. By June of 1957, with no english and not very much money, they immigrated to Canada and settled in Edmonton where June and Wayne were born. She soon found her self a single mother and went to work at various jobs; seamstress for G.W.G. (made jeans), cleaning airplanes and hand painting aerial farm photos for over twenty years. Edith also enameled pins, worked for an engraving company and finally tried her hand at retail sales before retiring. All the while making and selling all types of crafts, which she never retired from. Edith lived many years in Edmonton before moving to Ontario for a few years and then to British Columbia. In 1997 she relocated to Bow Island to help her daughter and enjoyed the community so much she settled right in.
Edith loved to cook, bake and garden; she liked to grow flowers but hated weeds and watering. She especially loved anything with whipped cream. Edith also enjoyed spending time with her dog Poppy, except the times when Poppy chased rabbits with her on the other end of the leash.
Edith’s passions were talking and doing arts & crafts, both of which she excelled at. She could paint, sew, mold, knit, draw, quilt, applique, cross-stich, embroider and make anything! She was so talented in many areas and everyone who knew her has a variety of items that she made with her own hands.
In June 2012, as her health failed, Edith made the move into her daughter’s home where she and Poppy resided until her passing.
She will be sadly missed but fondly remembered by many.
If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Edith’s name may be made directly the Bow Island and District Health Foundation, Bag 3990, Bow Island, Alberta T0K 0G0.