Esme Joan McLean
(July 29, 1924 – June 29, 2011)
Esme Joan Gadd was born July 29, 1924 at the farm North of Bienfait to Bert and Agnes Gadd. Growing up she participated in 4-H Calf Club, and loved playing baseball. She spent many happy hours with her brothers and sister, Leonard, Alice and Edgar. After finishing school in 1944 at Bienfait Rural, Esme headed to Regina to attend Teaching College. In September 1944 Esme started her teaching career at Holbrooke, teaching from 1944 -1946. She taught at Douglaston 1947-1948, South Alameda 1948- 1950, Poplar 1950-1951.
While teaching at Holbrooke, Esme had boarded with the Stuart McLean family. At that time she met her future husband, Donald McLean. December 19, 1951, Esme married Don in the United Church, Estevan. They started their married life 10 miles north of Alameda on the family farm. Esme was very much involved in daily activities for the many years they spent farming. She always had a large garden, raised cattle, chickens turkeys, and the occasional duck or goose. She always had a dog and a favourite among the many cats. Flowers were one of Esme’s great loves. She spent many hours arranging flowers for Flower Shows for a great number of years. She was also very active in the Dalesboro Church and served as treasurer of the UCW for years. Esme spent many falls in the old CCIL combine bringing in the harvest.
To Esme’s marriage three children were born, Ken, Murray, and Donalda. Esme was very proud of her children and always encouraged them to do their best. If ever a problem, she was there to guide them. As when she was a teacher helping and guiding young people, Esme continued to do this for the rest of her life.
As with her children, Esme was a very large part of her grandchildren’s lives. Tyler, Ryan, and Lisa spent many a happy hour with Grandma, as she lived just across the yard. Kathryn and Thrissa’s visits from Calgary were always something she looked forward to. She was very proud of all her family.
Her grandchildren have very fond memories of Grandma. Tyler would help Grandma pick strawberries, however, very seldom did very many “Aweberries” make it to the dish or the house.
Ryan remembers when he was little the time Grandma and Tyler took his John Deere tractor and wagon to be part of an arrangement that was entered in the Alameda Flower Show. Even though it won 1st place, Ryan’s concern was that his favourite toy would not be returned.
Lisa as a little girl remembers the time she went over to visit Grandma and found that she was sleeping. Grandma was a very heavy sleeper, so Lisa decided to awaken her by tickling her feet, not knowing that there had been a fly bothering Grandma before, so she had went to sleep with the fly swatter. Let’s just say Lisa got really scared when Grandma sat straight up without opening her eyes, grabbed the fly swatter and said “You dang fly I’m going to get you this
time!” Then Grandma opened her eyes and saw it was Lisa. She was pleased and the pesky fly was forgotten.
Kathryn will miss playing her favourite songs for Grandma on the piano. And Thrissa remembers her yearly visits with special Grandma.
Once Esme retired from farming, she moved to Estevan. Here she met many new friends. Esme loved to visit and spent many hours at different activities. Especially enjoying the new church family she’d found.
When Esme suffered 2 heart attacks in 2009 she moved to Creighton Lodge. Here too she met a number of new friends. Upon hospitalization on May 3, 2011, she knew she was going to have to leave Creighton, but was looking forward to once again making a new move and meeting more new friends. Esme had many ups and downs during her 2 month stay in the hospital and in the end lost her battle Wednesday, June 29, 2011. She will be greatly missed by family and many friends.
She was predeceased by her parents Bert and Agnes Gadd, her brother and sister, Leonard Gadd and Alice Shortreed, nephew and niece Robert and Barbara (infancy) Shortreed and numerous in-laws. Surviving her is her husband Donald, sons Ken (Diana), Tyler, Ryan, Lisa; Murray (Jana), Danny and Thrissa; daughter Donalda McLean (Mike Larocque), Kathryn; one brother Edgar (Diane) Gadd and a number of in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends.
The funeral service was held at the Church of Christ, Estevan, Sask. on Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. with Tim Pippus officiating and delivering the eulogy. David Widenmaier and her church family and friends sang numerous hymns.
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