Jessie Apland (nee McLaren) was born in Stirling, Scotland, growing up in Dundee, middle child to Alfred & Mary McLaren. Jessie began her working career in the textile factory as a weaver. In the early 1940s, Jessie met the love of her life Harry Apland at Green’s playhouse in Glasgow. They were married in Dundee, Scotland on Mar. 31st, 1945. In 1946, Jessie boarded the Queen Mary and sailed to Canada, landing at Pier 21 in Halifax. From there, she boarded a train to Winnipeg to meet Harry and begin their married life. Jessie was welcomed into the large Apland family as a sister, a big city girl, suddenly living on a farm.
Harry and Jessie’s adventures took them to Marchwell, Sask., then to Mayerthorpe, Alberta. By this time, Harry & Jessie were thinking of starting a family. When Jessie was ready to give birth, she had to take a horse drawn wagon ride 14 miles to the hospital. At the hospital, she gave birth to not one but two babies. Who knew she was having twins! Two more boys were born before the family moved to Ignace. A few years later on Easter Sunday, a baby girl was born; now the family was complete.
Raising a family of five did not stop Jessie from going out in the workforce, getting a job with Bell Canada. The family moved to Dryden in 1963.
Jessie was predeceased by her husband Harry in 2006. She is survived by her children: Keith (Dianne), Brian (Leslie), Ron (Marsha), Gary (Jan) and daughter Arlene. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Shawne (Blair), Karsen (Ashley), Kyla (Tim), Matt (Rikky) and Kathryn, her great grandchildren: Trent and Brynn Lapointe , Tanner and Kira Apland, Kooper and Bronson Kropelin and her brother Dick and his family members in Australia.
Jessie was the matriarch of a large family; she had a heart of gold and was a woman who lived for her family, knew how to love and was loved by all in return. Jessie enjoyed bowling, bingo and bus tours to gamble. She was also a wonderful knitter.
A celebration of Jessie’s life will be held Wednesday, November 27th at 11:00 a.m. in Our Saviour Lutheran Church with Pastor James Wood officiating. Interment of ashes will take place in the Dryden Cemetery.
Jessie was one of the gang working for many years raising money for DECO. In lieu of flowers and if friends so desire, donations may be made to: DECO Princess Court Auxiliary through the Stevens Funeral Homes, P.O. Box 412, Dryden, P8N 2Z1. Condolences may be posted at www.stevensfuneralhomes.ca.
