Wednesday, March 31, 2021
OUR COUSIN ‘BERYL’
Bill and I send our sincere sympathy to all of Beryl’s family. We know how hard it is to lose a Mom and Gramma.
Beryl was my favourite first cousin. I liked lots about her but especially her sense of humour and the way she ‘jiggled’ when she laughed. She also had the dry Bennett wit, which I understood.
I have memories of her family spending Christmas for many years at our home in Fordwich. Aunt Christie would then have us back for a ‘goose supper’ for New Years. It was likely one they ‘fattened’ up for the occasion! (The goose is getting fat)!!
I was the youngest (MUCH younger) of five of the Pattersons. Brother Jim and I were like the second ‘batch’ so Beryl and Jack were more of the age of our sisters Wilda, Ruth and brother Willoughby. My sister Ruth remembers Beryl telling her that she used to look for the stir of dust on the road on a Sunday afternoon hoping the cousins had come for a visit.
I sang at your Mom and Dad’s wedding in the little Anglican church in Gorrie. I was one of the few invited to a dinner at Aunt Christie’s house after the ceremony. A few days later, (maybe after the honeymoon!) we were invited to go to a reception and dance in the Elmira area to celebrate the marriage with those local friends and family. I remember what a handsome couple they were and I was envious of Beryl’s tiny, tiny waist. She looked stunning in her beautiful outfit including her ‘fur stole’! Wonder if you still have it!!?? I think they had been practising dancing at Parkview Gardens in Listowel leading up to this ‘event’ and so they ‘whirled’ around the dance floor ! Beryl was older than most brides were (at that time) and I remember telling her after I had met George ‘he was worth waiting for’!!
When we returned to Ontario after spending 10 years on the West Coast we re-connected as adults. We were honoured to be asked to be God-parents to Colleen, I believe in 1968 and enjoyed a delicious dinner at ‘the farm’ after. All of the Pattersons enjoyed a reunion at ‘the farm’ one year.
Bill grew up around the corner in the Gorrie area and knew the Bennetts, likely better than me! Beryl was a few years older than Bill and she often told me that he used to call her ‘Miss Bennett’ for the longest time. We had a good laugh about that often together. It was fun for us as a couple to have that connection, and when we visited it was always comfortable (except maybe for poor George!) and we always enjoyed getting together. No matter how long in between visits we always seemed to be able to pick up where we left off, so to speak! I think they were guests at our wedding in 1961.
I am sorry I didn’t see her more in the last few years but alas! I know that she was well loved and cared for by her wonderful family. Bill and I and sister Ruth, and perhaps brother Willoughby will be attending the service at the church on Saturday. We will see you all there. P.S.We have had our shots 4 weeks ago.
Warm Covid hugs
Elizabeth
P.S. Willoughby is sad he can’t attend on Saturday but he has an appointment at 2:00 P.M. for his Covid shot.
