Elaine Dafoe, 1931 -2003

Elaine Dafoe passed away at Lethbridge on Jan. 21, 2003. A memorial service was held at Lethbridge on Jan. 25 and many relatives and friends attended and paid their respects.

Elaine had asked to be cremated to enable her remains to be buried in the family plot at High Prairie in the old St. Mark's Anglican Cemetery in the summer. She felt it would give her family and the High Prairie relatives a chance to attend in more pleasant weather. She always was thinking of others. Chapel of Memories (High Prairie) has arranged for the graveside service to be held on July 10 at 2 p.m. Rev. Sharon McRann of the High Prairie United Church will be performing the service.

Elaine was born on Dec. 11, 1931 at Brock, Sask. to Blanche and Milford Beamish. When she was only a few months old, her family moved to northern Alberta due to the Depression in Saskatchewan and greener pastures in the High Prairie area.

She was predeceased by her parents and both brothers: Vern and Harvey.

Elaine married Robert Dafoe of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police at Faust on Feb. 15, 1958. They were blessed with a baby girl on April 14, 1959 and named her Janice. Elaine and Robert were transferred from their first home at Grande Prairie to Oyen, Fort Macleod, Brooks, Calgary and Leduc where Robert retired from the RCMP. He then went to work for Woodward Stores at Edmonton and was transferred eventually to their Vancouver head office until he retired 10 years later. They returned to Alberta to live in Lethbridge to be closer to their daughter, Janice, her husband Wayne Zoeteman and their three children: Lindsay, Joshua and Alyssa.

When Elaine was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig disease) on Nov. 19, 2000 she asked to spend the remainder of their life at home in Lethbridge. Robert and Janice looked after her at home until she passed away peacefully. Her care was also supported by the ALS Society of Calgary, the Community Health Department of the Chinook Hospital Region and staff at Lethbridge Family Services.

Elaine will be greatly missed by family and friends.

Anyone wishing to help support the ALS Society can send donations to ALS Society of Alberta, Suite 400, 320-23 Ave. S.W., Calgary, Alta, T2S 0J2.