Adelaide, known affectionately by all who knew her as “Addie,” drew her first breath in Lubica, a small town in what is now Northern Slovakia. Her last breath was drawn in Victoria Hospital in London, Ontario on May 30, 2023. Many thousands of miles and over one hundred years define a life that, though unpretentious, was far from ordinary. As a young girl she loved the small delights of her European town (especially her German-speaking school), but Addie’s first great adventure came at the tender age of eight, when she, her mother, and her siblings travelled by train to Southampton, England, where they boarded the SS Megantic bound for Québec. Once in Canada the family would be reunited with Joseph, the father, who had already moved to their new country a few years earlier in order to earn passage for his brood.

They settled in Preston, Ontario (now a part of Cambridge) where Joseph worked as a cabinet maker in one of the many local furniture factories. The year was 1929. Though the family struggled during the ensuing depression years (homes and jobs lost and regained), it managed to survive—and Addie learned the importance of thrift, a virtue to which she would cling throughout her life. Hardships aside, Addie quickly plunged headlong into exploring her new homeland. Because of her direct, outgoing nature she made friends easily, and although she loved the outdoors—playing ball, climbing trees, skating in the outdoor rink—she also had a deep and heartfelt attachment to St. Clement’s, her school. An attachment that was reciprocated by her teachers, who recognized a genuine inquiring mind. Her schooling, however, was nipped in the bud at the tender age of sixteen—the year was 1937, times were tough, and her family needed whatever help an income from Addie could provide.

Addie began her working career as a live-in “housekeeper”—a combination of nanny and maid—for local families. She made the meals, cared for the kids, and, on occasion, dodged amorous husbands around the dining-room table. Despite these humble beginnings, Addie refused to let her limited education hold her back. Her inner drive and belief in her own abilities eventually propelled her into a successful and satisfying career in business administration, both in the private and public sectors.

Addie moved to London, Ontario in 1947, where she met her future husband, Gordon. They married in 1953, and were together until his death in 2006. Their home became the centre of ad-hoc dinners or neighbourhood parties; their pursuits included square dancing, bridge and golf. Addie threw herself into all her activities with unbridled and unabashed enthusiasm. She expected the best of people and usually got it. As a result, people trusted her and would confide in her; a conversation with Addie could go on for hours—and range from local gossip to the latest foolishness being proposed by government mandarins.

Addie will be sincerely and deeply missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her—and most especially by her children, Frances and Richard, her granddaughter Jennifer, her great-granddaughter Avery, her brother Robert and her many nieces and nephews and their families.