HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-01-19, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2017.
Datema always exceeded expectations: Cronin
By Cheryl Cronin
The Village of Blyth and the
surrounding community lost a
special person on Jan. 11 when Gaye
Datema passed away.
Gaye was born in 1934 in
Friesland, the Netherlands. She
immigrated to this area with her
parents and siblings about 1949 at a
time when many Dutch families
were looking for new opportunities
and land ownership in Canada
following the destruction of their
homeland during World War II.
In 1955, she married Mery
Datema, a fellow immigrant, and
they began a life together that lasted
for 61 years. They were perfectly
balanced; he was quiet and steady
while Gaye was talkative and
spontaneous.
Gaye Datema came into our lives
in 1969 when she started to work for
us at Cronin's Home Hardware on
Blyth's main street. She was a
trusted, devoted, capable and valued
employee. She thrived when faced
with a challenge and exceeded
expectations when given
responsibilities. She greeted
customers with a positive attitude, a
sunny disposition and a willingness
to please; qualities which kept them
coming back for more. She surprised
and impressed customers, especially
the men, with her wide knowledge of
tools, nuts and bolts, plumbing
supplies, paint—and the perfect gift
for their wives at the 11th hour on
Christmas Eve.
Gaye quickly became the "go -to"
person for the customers and all of
us at the store. She quietly and
efficiently took over the
bookkeeping responsibilities and
when the microfiche became the
"new technology" of the hardware
business, it was Gaye who learned
how to use the system to search for
new items and order stock each
week. She took the lead when we
attended trade shows and
instinctively knew which innovative
gadgets and widgets to order and
how many the community could
absorb.
She was intuitive and an accurate
judge of character. She never backed
down from a good discussion or a
male traveller who thought she was
just another pretty face. They quickly
learned to respect her intelligence,
her knowledge of their products and
the needs of her community.
During those years, Gaye and
Mery were raising five children,
managing a mixed farming operation
and working off the farm to make
ends meet. Often, she would arrive
for work at 9 a.m. after milking
several cows, completing farm
chores and organizing her children
for the day. About 4 p.m. on many
school days, the store phone would
ring and it would be Judy or Giena
wondering what to prepare for the
supper meal. Gaye would offer a few
quick instructions and without
missing a beat, return to her task.
She taught herself enough about
electricity, plumbing and carpentry
to dismantle a wall in their home and
replace it with a patio door. Over the
years, she managed other
renovations in addition to farm
equipment repairs.
There seemed to be no end to her
talents, her energy level, her desire
to learn, her willingness to volunteer
in her community, her commitment
to her faith and her church and the
love and pride she had for her
family.
Although there are many stories
we could tell about our years
together, one stands out from the rest
because it exemplifies Gaye's
dedication and importance to our
business.
There was a large display window
in the front of the store with several
display shelves full of small
appliances and giftware. One
summer, Saturday night in 1972,
thieves smashed the window and
snatched all of the items on display.
Upon finding the mess the next
morning, we called the police.
When the police officer arrived, he
asked for a list of the items taken.
Tom had no idea what was missing,
but he knew who would know; Gaye
Datema was the one to ask.
We realized that it was Sunday and
Gaye and Mery would be at church.
That didn't deter the police officer.
He proceeded down the street to the
Christian Reformed Church, entered
the sanctuary, interrupted the service
and announced that if there was a
Gaye Datema in the building, she
was to come with him. Can you
imagine what the congregants were
thinking?
Without hesitation, Gaye dutifully
left the church with the police officer
and arrived at the scene of the crime.
Within minutes she identified every
item missing from the window
display and elsewhere in the store,
leaving the two of us feeling rather
inadequate.
No doubt she was the talk of the
church congregation that day but just
like any other day of the week she
was on the job, an advocate for the
business. She was always ready to
promote and protect.
After we sold the business to Nan
and Gene Gore, Gaye taught them
everything she knew about the
Obituaries
hardware business and then decided
to retire. A few years later, she came
out of retirement to work with Tom
once again in an auto parts store
where she used her highly -
developed people skills to help
expand the customer base and
participate in building another
successful retail business. She was a
human resources specialist before
we knew there was such a thing!
Following a second retirement,
she opened Wetsinge Gardens, a
seasonal greenhouse operation on
their farm in East Wawanosh, and
developed a huge following of
customers both on-site, at the
Saturday morning market in
Goderich as well as many other local
markets.
When asked when she might retire
for good, she said that she liked to
give her grandchildren a place to
work for the summer, so
maybe next year.
It was always about someone else,
never herself. She led youth groups
well into her senior years and
volunteered to drive folks to
appointments in local towns and in
London. She tried to make
someone's life brighter each day and
that was her goal when she joined a
team of volunteers who participated
in Missions to Haiti. She wanted to
make a difference in people's lives
and she did!
We'll miss her warm hugs, her
effervescent greetings and her
positive spirit. Hers was a life well
lived and so many of us benefitted
from her time on this earth.
Godspeed, Gaye Datema.
Science needed for
transport regs: Chaffe
Continued from page 15
taking care of their animals, the Beef
Farmers of Ontario had pushed for a
40 -hour limit. The 36 -hour limit, he
said, seemed not to be based in
science and research, but rather to
please critics of the food industry.
"We want something based on
science. Don't do it for people in the
city who think [cattle] are on a truck
for too long," Chaffe said of the new
regulations.
Boman also said there are other
regulations that will now be in place
for drivers. They will all need to have
contingency plans in place in the
event of an emergency and records to
tell the story of the animals on the
After
GAYE DATEMA
a courageous battle with
cancer, Gaye Datema (nee Hibma)
went to be with her Lord peacefully
on Jan., 11, 2017 at Clinton Public
Hospital. She was in her 83rd year.
Gaye was the beloved wife of
Mery for 61 years and loving mother
of Robert Datema, Judy (Dave)
Siemon, Giena (Eric) Nonkes, Don
(Cathy) Datema, and Wayne
(Michelle) Datema. She was the
adoring grandmother of 19
grandchildren and the loving sister
of Cobie (Bill) Hanenburg, Richard
(Wendy) Hibma, John (Heather)
Hibma, and Sippe (Delia) Hibma.
Gaye was sister-in-law of Frits
(Grace) Datema, Riek Datema,
Martha Valkema, and Ankie (Jan)
Buikema. She will be missed by
many nieces and nephews in Canada
and Holland. Gaye was predeceased
by parents Don and Judy Hibma and
in-laws Roelf and Hilliggiena
Datema, sister Sandy (1962),
daughter-in-law Deb Datema
(2007), brothers and sister-in-law
Henk (Francine) Datema, and Albert
Valkema.
Friends and family were received
at the Blyth Christian Reformed
Church Jan. 13. The funeral service
was held on Jan. 14. Interment will
be in Blyth Union Cemetery in the
spring.
In lieu of flowers donations to the
Huron Christian School Tuition
Relief Fund or Mission to Haiti
Canada would be appreciated.
Condolences may be left at
www.falconerfuneralhomes.com
BRENDA LEE SCOTT
Brenda Lee (De Riviere) Scott of
Blyth passed away at Clinton Public
Hospital on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017.
She was in her 72nd year.
Brenda was the beloved wife of
Donald Scott for 51 years and loving
mother of Deb and Mark Sholdice,
Clinton; Kim and John "Hoob"
Hulley, Goderich and Jon Scott and
Lindsay Williams, Auburn. She was
the cherished grandmother of
Samuel Sholdice, Sarrah Sholdice,
McKenna Hulley, Taylor Hulley and
Ally Hulley and dear sister of Judi
and Jerry Lava, Kenora; sister-in-
law of Bob Scott and Bonnie Bearss
and Paul Gross, all of Blyth. She
will also be missed by her nieces and
nephews.
Brenda was predeceased by her
parents Lou and Pauline De Riviere,
parents-in-law Laurie and Dorothy
Scott and sister-in-law Carol Gross.
At Brenda's request cremation has
taken place.
A Celebration of Life will be held
at the Royal Canadian Legion, Blyth
Branch No. 420 on Saturday, Jan.
21, 2017 from 2 – 4 p.m. Interment
of ashes will take place in the spring
at Blyth Union Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial
donations to the Blyth Legion
Building Fund, the Blyth Union
Cemetery or a charity of one's
choice would be appreciated.
Arrangements were entrusted to
the Falconer Funeral Homes, Blyth
Chapel. Condolences for the Scott
family may be placed through
www.falconerfuneralhomes.com
GLORIA MARGARET WARD
Mrs. Gloria Ward of Wingham
passed away at Braemar Retirement
Centre, on Monday, Jan. 9, 2017.
She was 79.
Gloria was the beloved wife of the
late Bill Ward who predeceased her
in 2015. She was the sister of Karen
Kroezen, Cambridge and the
cherished sister-in-law of Mary -Lou
Herd, Wingham; Shirley Riebeling,
Drayton; Doug and Beatrice Ward,
Listowel; Ila Rae and Nick Kaounis,
Kitchener; Pauline Nutt, London
and Ron and Brenda Ward, RR 2,
Wingham. She will be lovingly
remembered by several nieces and
nephews. Gloria was predeceased by
her parents Ben and Ethel McQue
and parents-in-law Walter and Greta
Ward.
Visitation and funeral service were
held at McBurney Funeral Home,
Wingham on Friday, Jan. 13. Rev.
Jeff Hawkins officiated.
Memorial donations to Braemar
Residents Council or Maitland River
Elementary School would be
appreciated as expressions of
sympathy.
Online condolences may be left at
www,mcburneyfuneralhome.com
BRUCE WILMER "TURK"
BARRIE
Bruce Wilmer "Turk" Barrie
passed away at the Grand River
Hospital, Kitchener on Monday, Jan.
9, 2017. He was 82.
Bruce was the beloved husband of
Eileen (Nesbitt) Barrie and the
loving father of Roger Barrie, Dan
Barrie, Marie Rosen (Mike) and
Joan Barrie and grandfather of Lexi
and Joshua Rosen. He was the dear
brother of Lorna Lyddiatt (Bert).
Bruce was predeceased by Margaret
McVittie and Bob Barrie.
Visitation was held prior to the
funeral service at Memory Gardens
Funeral Home, Breslau on Jan. 12.
Memorial donations to a charity of
one's choice would be appreciated.
Bruce will be sadly missed by all his
family and friends.
truck – where they've come from,
how long they've been on the truck
and where they were brought to.
In other BFO news, Boman
showed producers a video for the
organization's newest marketing
campaign, which he says is its most
ambitious ever.
He said that the province's beef
producers need to market
aggressively to consumers in their
own province, focusing on
increasing confidence in producers
and maximizing value for the
product.
gQue Zeat
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