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
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