Memories of days gone by

On Dec. 31, 2024, Lydia received a call from her sister in Winnipeg, Man., and gave us the sad news that her husband, Rudy, died. The weather was very cold, and the roads were icy, so her sister discouraged us from travelling.

In another circumstance, we travelled to Saskatchewan in 60 below weather on New Year’s Day, and confronted blowing snowstorms on the way, as I had been appointed administrator of my brother Nick’s estate in 1994; I was also executor of my mother’s estate in 1998. We hired a lawyer from Yorkton, Sask., and communicated with him by fax and mail once we were back in Alberta. There was a lot of work to be done since there wasn’t a will to probate until after the court hearing to appoint me as administrator with the help of my siblings. 

When my mother passed away, she had a will in place, and I was assigned as executor of her estate. She passed away in March. We were fortunate to have Madeline come all the way to Canora to play at the funeral service where I canted Psalm 23 and we sang appropriate hymns. The weather was under a polar vortex; our family stood in the bitter cold at the gravesite. In addition to arranging the funerals via long distance and a lawyer who will probate a will, I was responsible for selling all the assets on the farm and reporting to the lawyer. 

Furthermore, I asked a local lawyer to commission me to take an oath to appoint me as commissioner for oaths in and for Alberta. This will help save time and money to execute affidavits in the absence of a lawyer.

Paul Jones, Coaldale