Elva RANDALL

ELVA WISHLOW Elva passed away peacefully on Monday, October 12, 2009 at Oliver Lodge at the age of 86 years. Elva is survived by her husband Sam Wishlow, Saskatoon SK; two children: Kevin Wishlow (Mary Lou Nicholson), Ottawa, ON and Jane (Jim) Geddes, Strathmore, AB; five grandchildren, Isabella Wishlow, Strasbourg, SK, Danielle Kuntz, Calgary, AB, Matthew Kuntz, Calgary, AB, Derek Kuntz, Strathmore, AB, Marc Kuntz, Stathmore, AB; one brother Ken Randall, Saskatoon, SK. Elva was born in Saskatoon (1923) where she attended Wilson Public School and later City Park Collegiate. She was truly a Saskatchewan health care pioneer, graduating from the City Hospital School of Nursing in 1945 and then going on to train as a public health nurse at the University of British Columbia. As a young public health nurse she traveled the back roads of Saskatchewan, where she organized polio clinics and administered vaccinations on behalf of the province. Getting to the people often meant changing the tires on the vehicle she drove or putting chains on the tires to plough through the mud. Her sense of adventure and determined spirit eventually led her to Ontario and Quebec, where she worked with physically challenged children and adults. A flatlander at heart, Elva was drawn back to Saskatchewan, where she met her husband Sam. He was a counselor at Camp Easter Seal. She was the Camp nurse. Her compassion for people and her commitment to health care would eventually lead to a job with the Wilkie Developmental Centre, and then later as the Director of Homecare Services in the Wilkie area. The family expresses a special thank you to the caregivers at Oliver Lodge for their care, compassion and kindness during Elva's remaining years. They are truly amazing people. Visitation for family and friends will be held on Thursday, October 15, 2009 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Acadia-McKague's Funeral Centre (915 Acadia Drive). A Graveside Service will be held Friday, October 16, 2009 at 11:00 am at Woodlawn Cemetery with Rev. Tom Powell officiating. Family and friends may meet at the entrance to the cemetery at 10:45 a.m. Donations in memory of Elva may be made to the Oliver Lodge Redevelopment Fund (1405 Faulkner Crescent Saskatoon, SK S7L 3R5). Arrangements have been entrusted to David Schurr 955-1600. Published in the Saskatoon StarPhoenix from 10/14/2009- 10/15/2009