Home & Country Newsletters (Stoney Creek, ON), Spring 1983, p. 8

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100 years-old and still active WI member The sparkle in her eyes and the lilt in her voice are ageless and for the past 70 years. those qualities have brightened the meetings of the Cainsville Women’s Institute, near Brantford, Anne Taylor, whose mother was a charter member of Cainsvillc. cele- WI a way of life, says corn festival queen A 53-year member of the Lunenburg-Sl. Andrews Women's ln~ stitute, Wilhelmina Cleary, is now completing a one year term as Queen ofthe Corn Festival in Cornwall, after winning the honour by writing about her role in the community. Mrs. Cleary, in her writings, spoke mostly about her activities with the Women’s Institute. She told about an inspiration “Get On With The Job" and the motto “For Home and Coun- try" and described the short courses. demonstrations, social gatherings and accomplishments of the W]. “I: would be impossible to mention all that has been offered to me through my association with the Women‘s In- stitute, but as ljoined at the age of 18, got married. raised my family, was a grandmother. and now a great grand- mother. I am still WI through and through. For me it is a necessary way of life which has been inspirational, educational and rewarding," explain- ed Mrs. Cleary. 8 She noted there have been many changes since she first joined Wl. “When I joined it was horse and buggy days. We wrapped the children in blankets in the winter and off we went in the cutter to the meeting. There was no such thing as a babysit- ‘t’er then," Mrs. Cleary added. In the past. Mrs. Cleary attended the ACWW Convention at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto, She cherishes the memories of that convention and encourages Ontario WI members to go to the ACWW convention in Van- couver in June. Mrs. Cleary has been involved in a reaching out program which has been organized by the Lunenburg-St. An- drews WI. The project is designed to help and give friendship to lonely peoâ€" ple. Mrs. Cleary has been visiting elderly people who are shut-in to play cards, have a sing-song orjust sit and chat. Mrs. Cleary was made a life member in 1954. is; f Accepting her Cam ueen trophy is Wilhelmina Clear ’ i . y, a ltfe member 0 (l1 Lunenburg-St. Andrews W1. Donna Loewen, district pres f e presents the award to Mrs. Cleary. Mrs. Cleary won the by wrrtmg about her role in the community. ideal for Stormont, Corn Queen honor bratcd her 100th birthday in December. “I didn’t realize it Wtiuld be such a big affair," she said. lltc day after a rose tea was held in re, honor, late in January. “I don‘t ‘.-C[ much different now than I did \tz‘cn l was 50," she added. Mrs. Taylor was born in Caino .HC on Dec. 17, l882. At that time Co ‘li- ville was a rural hamlet, three n 2; outside Brantford. Now it is par it the municipality of Brantford -n 1907. she was married to Al H Taylor and moved several ti -s before returning to settle in Ct .. ville. In 19l2. Mrs. Taylorjoincr ,u lnstitulc. “People were going I g 50 I decided to try it out." o explained. About 25 women belongct a Cainsvillc Wl then. as many iron c city as the country, recalled ' Taylor. Dressmaking and furn t re-finishing were among the s Mrs. Taylor acquired as a men “I remember going to London i tario) to display the dresses onci Mine was linen with a floral pat l and i felt neat as a pin wearing ' she said. Mrs. Taylor is still active in Cainsville Branch. She hopes 1 women will join the Women‘s stitute in future years. “It in wonderful thing. There are no “w to possibly do it justice," she «, Now living in a nursing he . Mrs. Taylor said she likes to l v busy and enjoys helping o. ' residents. She doesn't attribute r longevity to anything in particular i don't take a pill of any kind. We ‘ and her husband) were always cart 1 of our food and never ate it" bread. We exercised and W0] hard." Mrs. Taylor said. Mr. Ta‘ also lived a long life, dying at age “We had pretty good health ‘ never had anything seriously MO I never even had a broken bone." added. To mark her centenary. M Taylor received greetings from ma friends and relatives at the rose and at a special celebration at l' church in December. Also, she recc ed a telegram from Buckinghr Palace, a framed greeting from Prin Minister Trudeau, and messas‘ from Premier Davis, her local M and MPP, the mayor of Brantfo; and other VIPs.

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