Johanna Gladstone

Johanna Maria Gladstone, age 95 died peacefully on April 28, 2018 at her home in Vista Village.  Johanna was born in Amsterdam, Holland in 1922, the daughter of Joop and Maria and little sister to brothers Evert and Joop.  Johanna’s childhood was spent swimming in the sea, playing on the beach and riding her bike.  An extremely talented person, with a wonderful sense of humor, and full of music, she loved playing the piano, singing and dancing.  She was an accomplished seamstress, knitter and crocheter.  She continued sewing and knitting beautiful clothes well into her senior years and was signing and joking to the end.   In 1945, she met her handsome Canadian Soldier, who was serving in Holland with the Seaforth Highlanders.  It was love at first sight and they were married shortly after.  With the war finally over, Dad was discharged and sent back to Canada, where he immediately sent for Mom.  In 1946, Mom along with her 3-month-old twins, Bill and Marie, boarded the Scythia, with a shipload of other war brides and children and set sail for Canada.  The Scythia took them as far as Halifax, where Mom and her babies caught a train for Calgary, joined Leonard and his family for the drive home to Pincher Creek.  With no English language or concept of the Canadian culture she began her life as a young wife and mother in a new country far from her homeland.  Mom started her new life in Pincher Creek, living with her in-laws and soon moved to Twin Butte, where Dad had found employment on a ranch.  He was later hired by Waterton National Park and the family moved from Crypt Lake to Cameron Lake to Belly River and finally to Waterton Park.  Sylvia joined the family in 1948.  Mom shared some hilarious stories about living in the bush with two-year-old twins and a brand-new baby; despite having no power, water and very little heat, you seldom heard about the hardships.  In addition to raising the 3 children, Mom found time to work outside the home and over the years held jobs cleaning government offices and working at Tiger Brand.  She loved the dances in Waterton and getting together with friends and family for Crib and other card games, as well as taking long walks and boat rides.  She and dad retired to Pincher Creek in 1976, where she enjoyed accompanying him while he officiated at weddings after becoming a Justice of the Peace.  Mom loved her family above all else and looked forward to weekend visits and opportunities to spoil kids and grandkids.  She loved to travel, and her children took her on several trips back to Holland and other vacation spots, including Hawaii and a Caribbean cruise.  She continued her love of crib and in later years, after moving to her home at Vista Village, she got into some good tournaments.  She also loved all the trips and activities that she participated in with the other residents and staff and was often the first one in the van.  Mom never forgot the dedication of the Canadian soldiers and their role in freeing Holland and she attended every Remembrance Day Service, the last one, just two weeks before her 95^th birthday.  Following the service, she’d go to the Legion to join in the signing and activities and to tip a wee drink in memory of the soldiers.  Mom is lovingly remembered by her children Marie LaFournie and Bill (Binkie) Gladstone; her grandchildren Billy (Denise) Gladstone, Shay Hunter, Chad (Lorraine) LaFournie, Leanne (Devin) Gladstone and Jessica (Arte) Gladstone; her great grandchildren Gabriell LaFournie, Clark LaFournie, Hillary LaFournie, step grandson Ty Hunter, Chase Hunter, Clay Hunter and William and Ashley Gladstone.  Her step grandchildren Ken (Shelley), Keith and Kristofer (Jodi) Doell and step great grandchildren Jordon (Lindsay), Brittany (Justin), Tristan (Shayna), Kayla, Riana, Marisa, Noah, Jake and Hailey Doell and two step great-great grandchildren McKinley Doell and Rhett Zoratti; her nieces Yvonne (Joop) Cooper and Daphne and her nephew Eric (Hilda) and their children.  Mom was predeceased by her parents Maria and Joop; her husband Leonard Gladstone; daughter Sylvia Vickers, sons-in-law Gene Gitlarski and Raymond Miles, and her brothers and sister-in-law’s Evert and Anna, and Joop and Allie, her nephew John Rea and step mother Dana and step sisters Annie and Carry.  We Love you Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Great Great Grandma, Auntie and Friend and will strive to continue your legacy of strength and love.  

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