Lucy Gladue remembers: Life was a challenge

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Gentle and sweet is the best description of Lucy Gladue, a long-time resident of the nursing home in High Prairie.

Lucy was born May 10, 1908 in Atikameg, a small closely-knit community. She was raised in an Anglican mission. At the age of 17 she married Frank, who was 28 at the time. Together they had eight children, five boys and three girls. They are also blessed with 30 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Lucy has a brother and sister who are still alive. Her brother lives in a home in Michener. Her sister, Annie Coutrie lives in the J.B. Wood Nursing Home. In the summertime both women visit their brother.

As a young women with very small children she was often left alone to care for them while her husband was away working. He usually logged, trapped or hunted. Work was mainly seasonal.

Between raising and caring for her little ones and making moosehides, mukluks and crafts, life was very busy for her. She loved to write poems. Life was very hard for her as a young women. Most of her babies were two years apart.

There was pain in her eyes as she related how her youngest child died of pneumonia. Her husband used to drink which eventually led to her being abused. But she never touched a drop, she despised it for the results it caused.

Her happiest memories were when the family went out camping in the bush, during these times she often made dry meat or cured moosehides. She remembers how pure and fresh the water was back then because when you dipped your pail in it was clear. People worked a lot harder then because they didn't have the conveniences we have now.

Lucy came to stay at the Pleasant View Lodge because she was and still is sick from bleeding ulcers. Her husband stays with her at the home. Both feel they need the care a home provides. She gets lonely so she goes to visit her sister at the nursing home which is just a short walk away.

Her strong faith in God is what sustains her. When she prays and reads her bible the loneliness goes away. She taught her children to be thankful for everything even when problems seems unbearable. She has prayed for her children since they were small and because of her devotion most of her children are saved and love the Lord.

One of her sons is a preacher in Edmonton. She said shyly that she is a born-again Christian. One of her favorite hymns is Amazing Grace; she is happiest when she is singing. She said, "We have only one master and we have to tell people what's in the bible both in Cree and in English."

We could learn a great deal from this dear lady. She's sick and in a home away from her family and yet she still smiles and thanks God for all she has.