Clara Polly Ann Evans
July 10, 1922 – May 14, 2011
Clara Polly Ann (Smith) Evans, age 88years, passed away just before midnight Saturday, May 14 at the Dryden Regional Health Centre.
“Little Polly” was the 12th of 13 children of William Henry Smith and Ida Moeser who came to Waldhof about 1907 from Kitchener. She was born on the family farm in Waldhof July 10, 1922.
She married David Llewellyn Evans April 28, 1951 at Dryden.
Polly worked as a cook in Kenora and Dryden, but left work to raise her family. She returned to work in her later years, working at the El Dorado Restaurant and the Patricia Inn, among others.
She loved to collect beautiful things, gardening, knitting and crocheting and often sold her work. A proficient seamstress, she was able to make clothes without patterns, using newsprint, guesswork and skill. She enjoyed making quilts for her children and grandchildren. Polly often entered her handy work in the Dryden Fall Fair, regularly winning prize money to fund her next project.
Polly was the last of her family, and was predeceased by brothers; Herbert, Robert, Victor and Percival as well as sisters; Louisa Trosterud, Evelyn Hansson, Gertrude Hoffert, Augusta Irmscher, Sarah (Grossberndt, Hedberg), Ida Davis, Myrtle Robinson and Mabel Gerlinsky.
She was predeceased by a daughter, Shirley Turbide, in May of 1985 and her husband of 36 years, David, in February of 1987.
Polly is survived by her children Alice Ann Walchuk (Bruce), William Evans (Correna), Darlene Fediuk and Dale Evans, all of the Dryden area, and George Evans (Karen) of Geraldton.
Also surviving are grandchildren Vicki Walchuk (Billy Joe Johnson) of Calgary, Michael Walchuk (Megan) of Prince George BC, Laurent and Martine Evans of Oxdrift, Trevor, Candace and Elizabeth Fediuk, and Llywelyn and Sabrina Evans.
Great grandchildren include John, Joan, David and Thomas Walchuk of Prince George BC and William Walchuk of Calgary as well as Megan Evans of Geraldton.
Polly was from a family with rich historical roots. She was a proven descendant of John Alden and Priscilla Mullins, as well as Elder William Brewster who sailed on the Mayflower from England to America in 1620. She was also a proven UE through Weart Banta, a United Empire Loyalist on the first fleet to arrive in Shelburne Nova Scotia after the American Revolution.
“Little Polly” will be missed by all who loved and respected her.
The family thanks the staff at Birchwood Terrace in Kenora, Princes Court in Dryden and the Dryden Regional Health Centre, who all cared for her in the past 4 years.
A Visitation will be held in the Moffat Chapel of the Stevens Funeral Homes Tuesday May 17th, 2011 from 1p.m. to 3p.m. In keeping with her wishes, there will not be a formal service. A private interment will be held afterward at the Dryden Cemetery.
Should friends desire donations may be made to the Dryden Regional Health Centre Equipment Fund through the Stevens Funeral Homes, P.O. Box 412, Dryden P8N 2Z1. Condolences may be emailed to sympathycard@shaw.ca subject: Evans.
