Emily Parry Gaetz [Jun.15, 1870-Nov. 10, 1953]

Tamar Emily (Dot) Parry Gaetz

Born: 15 June 1870, Birkenhead, England
Died: 10 Nov. 1953, Red Deer, Alberta

Was a life member of the Canadian Red Cross Society and a member of the first I.O.D.E. Chapter formed in Red Deer. In the early days worked very hard for the Ladies Church Group. One of the kindest and most generous of persons; callers were always most welcome. Many of the teaching staff used to drop in for a cup of tea on their way home. When the 1918 flu broke out, we had three teachers as volunteer nurses. On cold days she always had a hot drink ready for the ice man and on hot days a glass of cold lemonade. These little acts of kindness were innumerable.

- EXCERPTS FROM Dick Gaetz's family history

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NOTES FROM T. H. Gaetz (?) 

Miss Davies & Miss Stephenson, friends of mother's, appointed guardian, lived at 5 Fairclough Lane, BirkenheadMother's lawyers: Lagley & Rinehart, Liverpool
Miss Thomas and Mrs. White and cousin May White, lived at 17 Rose Mount, Lexton, Birkenhead
Mother's name: Elizabeth Martha Parry (nee Banks)
Mother's sister: Tamar Ann White lived in Lexton, Birkenhead
Cousin Mary Dadd & Cousin Susie lived in Chester, was a druggist
Family vault in Woodchurch Cemetery, Birkenhead

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NEWSPAPER OBITUARY

Funeral services for the late Mrs. T. A. Gaetz were held from the Brown & Johnson Funeral Home on Thursday afternoon. The service was conducted by Rev. W. P. Irving and Rev. J. C. Gardiner. Mr. Gardiner paid tribute to the courage and fortitude with which Mrs. Gaetz had met all the vicissitudes of her long life. She always made the best of things.

Mrs. Gaetz passed away at the Municipal Hospital on Tuesday, November 10 [1953]. She was 83 years of age.

Surviving are two sons, J. B. Gaetz, Rocky Mountain House, and Dr. T. H. Gaetz, Shelton, Conn.; and one daughter, Mrs. A. W. Stone, Calgary.

Honorary pall bearers were J. H. Comfort, N. R. MacDonald, W. P. Code, S. D. McConnell, Hugh Clarke, J. Barwick, Dr. W. B. Parsons, F. W. Gaetz, George H. Lindsay, F. A. Dowler, W. J. Stephenson, Fred Turnbull, Geo. Moon and Charlie Chuck.  Active pall bearers were R. E. Barrett, Kenneth Smith, Percy Gaetz, Val Lawrence, Kay Welliver and Emory Ross. Among the wealth of floral tributes were remembrances from the United Church W.A. and the Central Alberta Old Timers' Association.

Mrs. Gaetz was a real old timer. She came to Red Deer as a young girl in April, 1884, making the trip from Calgary to Red Deer in a covered wagon behind a slow-moving ox team with the Dr. Leonard Gaetz family.

On New Year's Day, 1896, she was married to Thomas A. Gaetz, a nephew of Dr. Leonard Gaetz. Mr. Gaetz died in 1950.

During her long residence in Red Deer she had seen the town grow from a river crossing to a fine city. Her courage and her keen sense of humor carried her through many difficult and trying situations. She was devoted to her husband and family. She was a good neighbor and many benefited from her generous nature. Mrs. Gaetz had been an invalid for a number of years but still took a keen interest in her children and her host of friends.

Mrs. Gaetz had the devoted care of her family during her long illness.