Mona BRIDSON

BOUCHER, Mona 1916-2000. Mona departed this life peacefully at Dryden District General Hospital on May 15, 2000. Born Mona Isabelle Bridson on Sept. 25, 1916 in North Cobalt, Ontario she grew up and lived in Windsor, Ontario most of her life. She preferred a quiet, simple way of life and would have agreed with Alexander Pope when he wrote: Happy the man whose wish and care A few paternal acres bound Content to breathe his native air In his own ground Blest who can unconcernedly find Hour days and years slide soft away In health of body, peace of mind Quiet by day Mona's greatest delight was dancing, an activity which she maintained into her eighty second year. She always followed her belief that we must speak well of others, or not at all. When her illness was discovered in December 1998, she came to Dryden to live with her son and daughter-in-law for the last year and a half of her life. Mona showed great courage facing her illness. During the last weeks she said many times how much she appreciated the care and attention she received from Dr. Cortens and the wonderful nursing and service staff at the Dryden Hospital. She leaves her only son, Wayne Brown and his wife Joy of Dryden; sister Grace Copeland of Windsor, Ontario; granddaughters Becky (Kevin) Job of Calgary and Pam Smith of Winnipeg, and grandson Steven (Anne) Brown of Dryden, as well as six great-grandchildren. Cremation has taken place. Her ashes will be interred in Windsor in the same grave as her husband John Boucher, the love of her life. A private memorial session for Mona will be held at a later date. For those who knew Mona's love of surrounding herself with little things she collected, the words of Eugene Field will ring true: The little toy dog is covered with dust, But sturdy and staunch he sands: And the little toy soldier is red with rust, And his musket moulds in his hands; Time was when the little toy dog was new, And the soldier was passing fair; And that was the time when our little "Mona" Kissed them and put them there If friends so desire, donations may be made to the Dryden Regional Health Centre in her memory, through the Dryden Community Funeral Home, 249 Grand Trunk Ave., Dryden, ON P8N 2X3 (The Windsor Star)