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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-09-16, Page 46Page 46 - Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, September 16, 2009 Nick E3Ianckarcl-huLIeI Nelly Renee Maria Juliette Ghislaine, Countess D'Ablancourt (Belgium) died peacefully at La Brassine, her home south of Goderich on Thursday September 3, 2009. Beloved wife of Thomas for 49 years and 11 months. Born into an aristocratic family in 1921 she was the only child of Renee Perot and Major Achille Hublet, First World War Veteran, serving three and a half years in the front line trenches and decorated for valor with the Chevalier de I'Ordre de Leopold with Crossed Swords and the Croix de Guerre with a paime. She was the grand daughter of judge Rene Perot, President of the High Court for the province of Luxembourg (Belgium) and great granddaughter of Rene Perot, President of the Supreme Court of Belgium. From an early age, Nicky had a passion for aeroplanes and took lessons on her 16th birthday in a Bi -Plane, passed her flying test on her 17th birthday and had her aerobatics License on her 18th birthday. For her birthday her parents ordered an aerobatic Mono Plane from France. It was delivered to Brussels Airport in September 1939. Nicky and her father traveled to Brussels and she examined the plane and sat in the cockpit They returned to their hotel but at 3 AM the Germans declared war on Belgium, which was neutral Nicky never saw her plane again and because of her war injuries never flew another plane. Her dreams of flying and soaring free as a bird were shattered forever. At the outbreak of WWII she joined the resistance as a courier, betrayed, she was arrested by the Gestapo, the feared secret police, imprisoned and tortured daily for three months. Unable to break her iron will and failing to get any information or confession they consigned her for rail transportation to the Women's Concentration Camp in Germany known as Ravensbruck. Nicky escaped from the rattle truck at the rail yard, picked up by a resistance rescue team organized by her Aunt she was hidden by the Nuns and then moved to a hidden loft in a ruiners cottage where she rested for a number of months tll she recovered her health. Nicky returned to the resistance, was promoted to lieutenant and led a band of 17 men who spent the rest of the war living rough in the forest between liege and Germany playing cat and mouse with the German Army. Her group blew up tains, railway lines, truck convoys and telephone communication poles. For her leadership she was awarded the Croix de la Resistance. In 1938, Nicky was engaged to marry Rene, Baron Del Mannol, Capt. Aviateur but he died in England flying with the RAF during the battle of Britain. Nicky's Uncle Paul was a Dr. and surgeon with an int called Dr. Jean Misch who was an Obstetrician having trained in Vienna and was a friend of Nicky. He too worked for the resistance and with typical Teutonic logic they made him Health Inspector for the brothel of the Generals and senior field officers. The girls were not allowed to leave the building and Dr. Jeanivisited them daily. Unbeknown to the Germans two of the guts also worked for the resistance and passed on very valuable information to Dr. Jean during his routine visits. It was during this period that Nicky happened to bump into Dr. Jean and they discussed their futures and their chances of surviving the war. In a moment of total madness they decided to marry, they found a priest and secretly and unofficially were married. An hour after the ceremony, Nicky returned to the woods and Dr. Jean to his duties. Two weeks later Dr. Jean was arrested by the Gestapo and as an example to the civilians of Arlon was executed by firing squad in public at the foot of the steps leading up to the Governor's Palace. Awarning not to join the resistance. As soon as the war was over Mother, Father and Nicky returned to the seaside town and resort of Ostend where she met Squadron Leader Roy Jackson of the RAE In 1948 they were married and Roy was posted to Chester, the H.Q. of RAF Western Command. Her parents were devastated at her leaving home and in 1950 they left Belgium forever and 'pined Nicky in Chester. By 1954 Roy was diagnosed with heart problems and after many months was boarded out of the RAF having joined at the age of 16 and served in Iraq, Syria, Lebannon, Egypt, China, India, Germany, Holland, Belgium and France. In early 1955 they bought "Vanier Lodge" a country home in Kent with a 4 -acre garden big enough for Roy to raise chickens and ducks. In September Roy received his official retirement papers and for the first time in 33 years he was no longer an officer of the RAF. At lunch he felt funny and around 4 PM retired to the bedroom, by 7 PM he was extremely ill and shortly died in Nicky's arms of a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 49. Once again his death was war related. Nicky's father died in 1957 at the age of 67 from the results of being gas officer in WWI and her mother in 1967 also aged 67. All three are buried together in the village of Headcorn, Kent, England. In 1959 Nick married Tom and lived within commuting distance of London where he worked in the head office of a British oil company. On May 1, 1970, Tom and Nicky immigrated to Canada, arriving at Dorval airport in Quebec with two suitcases and two toy poodles, with no job and knowing no one in Canada. We caught the train to North Bay, Ontario and arrived at midnight to collapse in the Empire HoteL By the 6th of May we were working on a fishing camp in nearby Lanial, Quebec, about 60 KM north east of North Bay. On the 214 of July we purchased a fishing camp called "Miwapanee Lodge" close to the village of IKipawa, on August 9th we took possession. Our first winter was spent in a summer log cabin with no insulation and only a wood stove for heat In January when the temperature dropped to minus 45 degrees Celsius and we went to bed with socks, gloves and touques I really thought Nicky had grounds for a divorce and a quick return to England and central heating. However, Nicky's only comment was that it was a lot easier than fighting the Germans and nobody was shooting at us. So count your blessings. End of story. I never, ever complained again for the next 39 years. Nicky introduced French Gourmet cooking and soon built a loyal following especially from the local paper mill called Tembec who brought all their customers from China to New York, to dine on Nicky's French cooking. And a trip by boat as we had no road to our camp. When you own a fishing and hunting lodge in Quebec and accessible only by boat or snowmobile you better have a resilient, stubborn, non -panicky wife and Nicky was all that and much more. I returned one day from the village, walked to the main lodge to find Nicky cooking as usuaL She greeted me with the words 1 have good news and bad news, Tom. The good news is I have just shot dead that trouble making bear and the bad news is that it was corning out of the fish cleaning shack, so now you have to repair the fly screen and remove the bear before our tourists return from fishing". Nicky returned to her cooking as if this was a part of daily life. In October of 1980 with the lodge dosed and all Bar and Wine stocks safely stored hi our cabin, I had to visit my parents in England. Nicky declined and said she would stay alone. Several days later as dusk was falling, a boat appeared with three Indian teenagers, Nicky greeted them at the door with her toy poodle in one arm and her arm behind her back "We want beer and you and that dog can't stop us and we know in England". Nelly brought forth her arm complete with our pistol and said "But my friend here has 10 rounds". The leader said, "You're a woman and wouldn't dare shoot us". Nicky's simple response was as follows: she looked straight at the leader and said "During the war I killed more Germans than you 3 have killed moose and at the moment you look like 3 more Germans and you will be the first to die". All three took off naming and Nicky heard their boat take oft She was not bothered again as word spread around the Indian Reserve that crazy Belgian Woman was quite happy to shoot Indians. In 1987 we sold our camp a purchased a faun south of Goderich and "La Brassine" was born as a French gourmet restaurant and B&B. Although Nicky's enthusiasm was definitely towards the Kitchen and I was left to deal with the B&B. Her cooking was enjoyed by residents from Goderich to Kincardine. In October 1999, Micky fell whilst visiting my aunt in Edinburgh and damaged her spine, she recovered but fell again on January 3"n., 2001, broke her arm and further damaged her spine and "La Brassine" closed the next day and Nicky never cooked another meal in her kitchen. A special thanks to Dr. Dawson who has looked after Nicky from 1987 with all her tribulations with great patience, understanding and especially her desire to leave hospital before she had recovered sufficiently. I would hike to thank all the Doctors and Nurses of Emergency who have dealt with her broken bones, heart attack, pneumonia and severe spinal pain. Warm thanks go to the Nurses and staff of Goderich Hospital who over the years tendered Nicky with great gentleness, kindness and compassion knowing full well that she was a very unwilling guest and let them know in no uncertain terms that all she wanted to do was go home "Now, if you please". Nicky thanks the nurses for being three wise monkeys during her final visit in June. Home care provided staff since 2001 allowing Nicky to stay at home and me to shop and many thanks must go to Theresa who over the last few weeks helped a dying Nicky cope with moving and ifs incredible pain. No tribute would be complete without thanking all the Nurses of St Elizabeth who visited Nicky over the years but special thanks go to Heather who had visited every two weeks since her heart attack in 2006 and almost daily chedking her vitals like a mother hen. Nicky would like to thank friends, Christina, Bev, Jeanette, Barbara and Gord who over the last 9 years, have come to her aid at all hours of the day and night You are now at peace and pain free with your parents but you have left a gaping hole in my heart, which will never heal till we are reunited. Au revoir "Chou" mon amour, wire Tom. We would like to thank Canada for accepting us as immigrants and allowing Nicky to spend her last 39 years living in peace without the fear of invasion and another war. Nicky has been cremated and her ashes will return to Headcorn and join her parents and Roy. <«"HOTIZOYiScs- Deadlines: Friday @ 2 p.m. In Menwriants MCDONALD In loving memory of a dear brother-in-law, Doug, who passed away September 18, 2007. Although we smile and make no fuss, No one misses him more than us, And when old times we often recall, It's then we miss you most of all. Always remembered by Dwight and Norma. —38x GIBSON (COOKE) In memory of our Lenore, who passed away three years ago, September 13, 2006. May the winds of love blow softly, And whisper in your ears, That we will always love and miss you, And wish that you were here. Lovingly remembered by Paul, Patty, Lucas and Kelly. —38x MCALLISTER/MACDONALD In loving memory of our Old Grannie, Ida McAllister, July 11, 1917 - November 22, 1999 and our Mom (Young Grannie), Glenda MacDonald, August 19, 1940 - September 14, 2004. May the words of love blow softly, And whisper so you will hear, We will always love and miss you, And wish that you both were here. Loved and missed by Mike, Tracey, Justin, Kyle, Kathy, Ron, Terry, Buford, Gord, Anne and Chelsea. —38x ERRINGTON In loving memory of Margaret, who passed away September 11, 2008. Gone from our sight, But not our memories, Gone from our touch, But never from our hearts. Your kindness in life Touched so many. Your love for our family Cannot be replaced. God keep you until we meet again. From the Pannabecker and Errington family. —381 WOOD Woodie and Peg - In loving memory of two wonderful parents, who passed away December 31, 1994 and September 16, 1996. In our hearts your memory lingers, Sweetly tender, fond and true, There is not a day dear mother and father, That we do not think of you. Love always, Carolyn and Rick. —38x NAYLOR In loving memory of: Jessie (September 9, 2005), a dear mother, grandmother and great- grandmother; George (April 22, 200.5) and Bill (August 9, 2006), loving brothers and uncles. Those we love don't go away, They walk beside us every day, Unseen, unheard, but always near, Still loved, still missed, and very dear. Missed and always remembered by Jean, Alex and family. —381 .• yw.�x.1/4 :,a:a a.rJWi �:y