Camelia Constant

Camelia (Gilla) was born at Opaskwayak Cree Nation Wednesday, May 22, 1918 and lived there for most of her life. She also lived in Winnipeg for a few years with her daughter Sylvia and her family, to whom she had devoted her life to. Mom passed away peacefully, Sunday, January 24, 2010 at the Rod McGillivary Memorial Care Home, Opaskwayak Cree Nation, with her family by her side, age 91 years. Rest in Peace, Mom. Mom was a life-time member of the Women’s Auxiliary at the Church of Messiah, a role she took very seriously and worked hard helping with Church and WA activities. The church remained the source of her spiritual strength throughout her life. It carried her through many devastating times as she lost her parents early in life and then all of her siblings. She missed and loved them all and spoke many times later in life of the day she would be reunited with them in God’s Kingdom. Gilla took on the role of being the person there for all of her nieces and nephews who lost their parents. She was loved by many and that love was returned twofold to all. She loved to tease and joke around with her family. But what she loved the most was to take care of people, especially children. She always made sure the kids were clean, fed and had clean socks!! She passed that lesson on to all of us; to make sure the kids came first and were well taken care of. Gilla also lived with her granddaughter Glenda and her son Travis for many years in Young’s Point. She loved her little house out there and whenever you walked in she made sure to give you a cup of tea and something to eat. She liked to spend her time there playing cards, especially Crib and Tens. She was famous for her “table talk” in Tens! Throughout her life Gilla helped her siblings in raising their children. She also became best friends with each of her sisters-in-law and loved each of them dearly. She maintained close relationships with many of her extended family and enjoyed living here amongst them. She was proud to be part of such a big family and had a place in her heart for many. Gilla taught us a lot about strength, courage, and unconditional love. Camelia made many trips to Thunder Bay to visit with her sister Hilda and her children. They loved going to bingo and enjoyed sewing. Hilda would do the bead work and Gilla would do the sewing. They were a good team!! They had a special bond and remained close no matter how far apart in miles they were. She loved those visits so much. Before her illness prevented her from going out, Mom spent many hours visiting her friends at the Mall, attending the Blizzard hockey games and going to bingo. Special thanks to nephew Bill Burns for all the rides to the Blizzard Games. Mom resided at the Rod McGillivary Memorial Care Home for the past four years. During this time she developed many friendships, especially happy to be a neighbour of Mrs. Evelyn Jebb, a lifelong friend, special niece Edna (Alex) Constant, Sarah Cook, several staff members (you know who you are), and Chief and Council of OCN. Special thanks to Dwayne, for your compassion and excellent care. Also to Diane, Martha and Annie for the care you showed to Mom. Also thanks to Simon for all the rides. We shall always remember that. Left to cherish her memory is her Daughter Sylvia Stevens, son-in-law Albert, Grand-daughter Glenda (Richard) & sons Travis & Vaughn, Grandson Sonny (Laura) & children Myles, Hope, Albert Jr., Carmen and Jayde, Grandson Jayson (Carrie) & son Tyson, Grandson Trevor (Lindsey) & son Antoine. Numerous nieces and nephews, so many that we cannot begin to name them all, namely the Constant, Burns, Young, and Giba families and their extended families. Ida (Nathan) McGillivary & family, Sandra (Donald) Melnyk & family, Karen (Ken) Kostyk & family, Darlene (Bertram) Fontaine & family, Maureen (Robert) Umpherville & family, Gloria (Roland) Lavallee & family. Niece Bertha Ducharme & family, adopted grand-daughter Georgette Clarke (Ricky Moritz, children Cole & Richelle), niece/namesake, Mrs. Camelia Fiddler, who has been a tremendous support to the family throughout this time, and also sister-in-law Barbara Constant and family. Mom was predeceased by her parents, Adam and Caroline Constant (nee Wilson); brothers Charles, Antoine, Isiah, Anthony, Lazarus, and Jake; sisters Helen Young, Clara Burns, and Hilda Giba; sisters-in law, Charlotte Constant, Maria Jane Constant, Martha Constant, Margaret Constant, Edna Constant, Louisa Cook and Victoria Constant; brothers-in-law, Myles Young, Robert Burns, and Louis Giba; great-grandson, Matthew Stevens, numerous nieces and nephews and many extended family & friends. Special thank you to niece Maureen, husband Robert, & their daughter Gabby, son Philip, for all the visits, the days Mom spent with them in their home. Thank you to niece Diane Burns for being her “chauffeur” at all times, even to a hockey tournament at Sapotaweyak Cree Nation!! Special thanks to nephews Richard Giba and Randy Burns for always being there for Auntie Gilla. To all the family members who always made sure she was at family celebrations and get-togethers. Grand-daughter Glenda for ensuring Mom’s wishes were met. We have so many cherished memories of Mom and now it is time to help her on her journey to the loved ones she has been missing over the years. Remember all the love, the good times, and especially all the laughter we have all shared with her. PRAYERS & HYMNS Tuesday, January 26, 2010 Residence of Arnold and Caroline Constant Lot 21, Bracken Dam, Opaskwayak Cree Nation, Manitoba WAKE SERVICE Wednesday, January 27, 2010 7:00 pm Church of Messiah, Opaskwayak Cree Nation, Manitoba FUNERAL SERVICE Thursday, January 28, 2010 12:00 pm Church of Messiah, Opaskwayak Cree Nation, Manitoba Presider: Rev. Gloria Lavallee Scripture Readings: Maureen Umpherville, Jaime Clemons, Ida McGillivary Eulogy: Glenda Stevens INTERMENT Emmanuel Cemetery, Opaskwayak Cree Nation, Manitoba PALLBEARERS Albert Stevens Robert Umpherville Sonny Stevens Trevor Stevens Travis Stevens Allen Ducharme Jr. Randy Burns Raymond Burns Morris Constant Sandy Constant HONORARY PALLBEARERS All of Camelia’s Family & Friends.