Esme Hannah Jenny Ouellette (nee Cooke)

May 6, 1923 - August 3, 2019
Esme Hannah Jenny Ouellette (Cooke) was born near Pershore, England, the middle of three children.
In January of 1950, Esme immigrated to Canada with her mother and young son, arriving on one of the coldest days of the year. They settled in Edmonton where Esme met Maurice, and they were married in October of 1954. Daughter Amy was born in 1955 and Debbie in 1958.
Although she had never set foot on a farm, Esme became a farm wife, and she discovered she loved raising farm animals, milking cows, and working in the garden. The family lived in several central Alberta rural communities before settling in Castor in 1968. Castor became their home town. She and Maurice spent many years as janitors in the schools and bank.
At the age of 90, Esme decided she needed a change and lived for three years in Olds, Alberta. But she knew that Castor was home, and she returned to live at the Paintearth Lodge until her passing in 2019.
Esme was a very strong and resilient woman. She endured a War, a Depression, countless recessions, hard financial times, and the brutal Canadian winters. She could always "make do".
Esme loved simple things. She was known for walking miles around town. She loved flowers, gardening, playing cards, and going on adventures. But music was her passion, and her best times were singing or whistling in the choir. She developed many friendships that were sustaining and comforting.
Esme was resilient and accepting to the end. She passed with grace at the Castor Extended Care.
Esme is pre-deceased by her husband, Maurice, her older sister Maureen, and her younger brother Ivor. She will be dearly missed by son Bill, daughters Amy and Debbie, many grandchildren and great grand children, and one niece and nephew.
A Celebration service will be held Friday, August 9, 2019 at Knox United Church, Castor, at 2 pm.