Obituaries

Herdis Larsen (Waksvik)

It is with love, and profound sadness, that we share the news that our mamma, mormor, farmor, oldemor, and tippoldemor, Herdis Larsen, has passed away peacefully at Wiigwas Elder and Senior Care on June 11, 2025. She was a remarkable 100 years, 7 months and 21 days young.

Mamma is survived by her daughters, Ingrid Parkes (George, Troy (Malissa, Taylor (Destiny, Scarlett), Mackenzie), Scott (Emily, Blair, Blake) and Jodi (Robbie, Ole) and Martha Cederwall (Dale, Janelle (Chris, Theo, Thomas), Daniel (Leah, June, Holly) and Lindsay (Pedro, Anna)), and son, Harald Larsen (Caryn, Devon (Matt, Cameron, Katryna, Charlie) and Hayden (Cassie). Hiding in this list of descendants are three children (barn), eight grandchildren (barnebarn), 14 great-grandchildren (oldebarn), and one great-great-grandchild (tippoldebarn) who she was profoundly proud of and enjoyed every moment of a visit, or a phone call, with each of them!

Mamma was born on October 21, 1924 to Inga and Elias Waksvik, in Ålesund, Møre og Romsdal, Norway; she was the sixth of eight children. Sadly her mother passed away in early 1928 due to complications of childbirth. Soon after her passing, Elias hired a nanny to help tend to the very young family of eight while he continued working as an elementary school teacher. Within two years, the nanny (Martha) had become a well-loved member of the family and she and Elias married. Martha was never considered a step-mother to Mamma or her siblings. Elias and Martha welcomed one child making a full house of nine children all under the age of 15.

The love Elias and Martha had for all the children along with the family values they shared with Mamma, and her siblings, was evident in her upbringing. While times were difficult during the German occupation of Norway in the Second World War there was never any ‘me and you’ in the family; it was always ‘we and us’ and this never waned after the war.

Mamma was predeceased by her husband, Helmer, just months after celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary in 1992 and by her parents: Elias, Inga and Martha, eight siblings: Arna, Magda, Odd, Martin, Snorre, Enride, Inge, and Maria and their spouses. She was the only member of her family to become a centenarian! She was also predeceased by her mother- and father- in-law, Marie Fauske (Larsen) and Ole Larsen and one sister-in-law, Margit Jacobsen and husband.

During the Second World War, Mamma spent many months at a time in Vaksvika to distance herself from any military action in Ålesund and to help on the lands of the family farm tending to the chickens, dairy cattle and herds of sheep. During this time Mamma also traveled to northern Norway to help her older sisters with her young nieces and nephews which fit well with her training as a midwife. While in northern Norway, Mamma took casual employment with a local hotel in northern Norway as a cook, cleaner, etc. She also went to school to learn English, math, and choir. These jobs (child care, cooking, and cleaning), and skills learned in school, set the foundations for her as a young adult and well into her ‘retirement’ years!

Mamma met Helmer (Pappa) in the village (Vaksvika) where Elias and Martha had built a summer cottage, Lunheim, and Pappa lived on a farm, Hauen, in the mountains with his mother and sister. They were married in the spring of 1952, and in June that year, without either of them speaking much English, embarked on a planned honeymoon trip of two years to Keewatin, Ontario to visit with Pappa’s father and to experience life opportunities. Well, two years became eight years (and three children) before Mamma, and her family of five, would return to Norway. This return to Norway did not last long, as eighteen months later they were on their way back to Keewatin where they would live out their lives raising their family, working hard and becoming integral members of their community.

Mamma, her siblings, and her parents were never far from music and song. Learning to sing a Norwegian table grace as a child was something she lovingly passed down to the generations of her immediate family. Singing Christmas carols around the family Christmas tree starting as a young child in Ålesund was a source of spirituality for her. Singing in a choir became a source of pride for Mamma and she loved to share her beautiful alto voice with those who were blessed to hear her sing in the church choir at St. Andrews United Church for more than 50 years. Even after her ability to sing in the choir was waning, she still found time to sing at home at any opportunity especially for her great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchild whenever they would come to visit. Norwegian children’s songs were favourites of hers to sing – whatever generation the children were.

Mamma formed lasting bonds with many families, and organisations, from Keewatin over the years. This began early when she took on various roles from: cleaning cottages; providing custodial services with Pappa for St. Andrews United Church, and Province of Ontario Government offices; babysitting many children; and being involved in the local multicultural scene as a proud Norwegian always willing to share our Norwegian heritage with anyone.

Babysitting started in 1965 with one family, and over the years, has included five, ten, or more, families that also extended to at least one family with two generations.

Her Norwegian heritage was always proudly on display in her home in the form of artifacts, souvenirs, songbooks, flags, etc. For many years Mamma would coordinate celebrating syttende Mai (May 17th) in St. Andrews United Church, or at her home, in recognition of Norway’s national holiday. In her 90s, she received an acknowledgment from the King of Norway that recognised her efforts to promote Norwegian heritage in Canada; this acknowledgment hung proudly in her home. These events were often featured in editorials by Ruth Bowiec in the Kenora Miner & News. Most importantly was how she, and Pappa, raised her three children teaching them her Norwegian language (Bokmål) which she spoke as a girl, and young woman, growing up in Ålesund. This somewhat contrasted with the Norwegian language (Nynorsk) Pappa spoke as a boy, and young man, growing up in rural Norway. But this did not deter either of them from being proud Norwegians in their adopted new country of Canada and Mamma was obliging to adapt to Pappa’s Norwegian language (when it was necessary).

Two passions Mamma loved to share with family and friends were her knitting and baking. She had developed remarkable talents to knit the most beautiful, detailed outfits that were given to many – newborn to senior. There is not one family member, or friend, of Mamma’s that does not have a pair of her infamous hand-knitted socks to wear on cold days; her voracious knitting abilities would allow her to knit one pair of socks within one week and often while sitting in her recliner watching her favourite television show – The Price is Right! Baking was another expression of her Norwegian pride when she would regularly bake one of many traditional Norwegian cakes or pastries. Rarely was there a time when there was not at least one (sometimes 3 or 7) baked goods available for visitors to enjoy with a cup of her ‘Norwegian strength coffee’.

Mamma did not fully understand why she outlived all her siblings in age but she always said that God had a plan for her. However, Mamma inconspicuously had the following poem by an unknown author displayed inside one of her kitchen cupboard doors:

Give me Time

Today, Dear Lord, I’m 80 and there’s much I haven’t done.
I hope, Dear Lord, you’ll let me live until I’m 81.
But then, if I haven’t finished all I want to do,
Would you let me stay awhile until I’m 82?

So many places I want to go;
So very much to see
Do you think that you could manage
For me to make it to 83?

The world is changing very fast;
There is so much in store.
I’d like it very much to live
Until I’m 84.

And if by then I’m still alive,
I’d like to stay ‘til 85
More plans will be up in the air; so I’d really like to stick
And see what happens in the world when I’m 86.

I know, Dear Lord, it’s much to ask (And it must be nice in Heaven);
But I would really like to stay until I’m 87.
I know by then I won’t be fast and sometimes will be late.
But it would be so pleasant to be around at 88.

I will have seen so many things, and
Had a wonderful time.
So, I’m sure that I’ll be
Willing to leave at 89….maybe.

I’m 90, Lord, my mind is sound;
I like it here – I can still walk around.
My time is limited I know,
And someday I’ll have to go!

I’m not greedy or guided by fears;
I want to see what happens in the next few years.
I’m sure you’ve heard this plea before,
But my bags will be packed at 104!!!

With His perfect timing, God has gently called Mamma into His eternal care.

Our family extends our deepest appreciation, and gratitude, to: Dr. Workman for his many years of care and compassion; Community Paramedics; Paramed Home Care staff; her caring friends Debbie Warkentin, Ellen Phinney, Linda Alvestad, and Sue McLeod; St. Andrew’s United Church family; Wiigwas Elder and Senior Care staff and residents – while only for 6 months, you all played such an important role in Mamma being able to enjoy the last few months of her life; and finally, Ruth Bowiec who helped to tell Mamma’s story in many ‘Bee Line’ editorials.

Cremation has taken place. There will not be a service for Mamma in Canada; a service, and celebration of her life, will take place in her beloved Norway amongst the snow-capped mountains, meadows and fjords in the summer of 2026 where she will join Pappa in eternal rest.

In lieu of flowers, donations would be greatly appreciated in memory of Mamma to: St. Andrews United Church Memorial Fund; Canadian Red Cross; World Vision; Wiigwas Elder and Senior Care; or a charity of your choice.

Hvil i fred Mamma. Vi elsker deg og sees igjen.