Close X
Thursday, October 31, 2024
ADVT 
National

Oldest Canadian, Merle Barwis, held title for almost two years; dies at 113

Darpan News Desk, Canadian Press, 28 Nov, 2014 12:45 PM

    VICTORIA — Canada’s oldest person who was known for celebrating her birthday with a cold beer has died just one month and one day shy of her 114th birthday.

    Merle Barwis lived at The Priory residential care facility in Victoria, B.C., and held the oldest-person title for almost two years died Nov. 22.

    Her grandson Terry Barwis, 65, a resident of the nearby community of Sooke, said she had few tips to share with her family about longevity.

    "She said there’s nothing you can do about it," he said. "If you’re old, you’re old. And if you’re young, you’re young."

    Variations of her favourite piece of advice included, "Mind your own business and don’t worry about too much."

    Merle was born Dec. 23, 1900, in Des Moines, Iowa. Her father was a horse rancher and she moved to Abbey, Sask., in her teens. She met a ranch hand, Dewey Barwis, at a dance and they married in her parents’ parlour.

    Dewey got a job as a train station agent and the couple moved around Western Canada with their three children.

    Merle, who was often left alone with the kids, learned how to stretch a dollar.

    "I know sometimes she did without, so that we could have things," said her daughter Esther Gaff, 88, from Medicine Hat, Alta.

    In 1952, Merle and Dewey retired to Sooke, where their son lived. Dewey died in 1966 and Merle never remarried.

    Terry remembered waking up early Christmas mornings and seeing a light on at his grandmother’s house, which was on the same property. He and brother Richard spent the early morning there — Merle always had coffee on next to her bed — until their parents awoke.

    His daughter Tara, now 41, phoned Merle every day after school for a full report on the soap operas.

    "She called a spade a spade. But she was very loving — not in a mushy way, but hard loving. Like, 'I love you and that’s that,'" Tara said.

    Merle loved to bake, said her grandson Richard. But she also got a kick out of ordering cakes out of the Sears catalogue, Tara said.

    Merle took pleasure in the simple joys of life. In her 90s, Terry said, she liked cutting the grass.

    "She cut half the lawn, sat down and had a cold beer, then cut the other half after she finished her bottle," Terry said.

    She was pleased when she learned she was the oldest Canadian at age 112, Richard said.

    "She thought that was pretty good. I asked if she wanted the prime minister (Stephen Harper) to come, and she said, 'I don’t want anything to do with Trudeau,'" he said.

    Both of Merle’s parents lived into their 90s and she had a sister who lived to be over 100.

    Merle outlived her two sons and two of her 10 grandchildren. She had 17 great grandchildren.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Toronto's international airport has enhanced winter operations plan

    Toronto's international airport has enhanced winter operations plan
    TORONTO — Canada's busiest airport has adopted an "enhanced" winter operations plan to better meet the needs of its passengers.  

    Toronto's international airport has enhanced winter operations plan

    Canada's economy grows at 2.8 per cent annual pace in third quarter

    Canada's economy grows at 2.8 per cent annual pace in third quarter
    OTTAWA — The Canadian economy grew at a faster than expected pace in the third quarter, but economists cautioned Friday about the impact of lower oil prices on growth in the coming months.

    Canada's economy grows at 2.8 per cent annual pace in third quarter

    Businesses beyond the oilpatch taking crude price slump in stride

    Businesses beyond the oilpatch taking crude price slump in stride
    CALGARY — For International Motor Cars, a luxury dealership in Calgary, the oilpatch is big business.

    Businesses beyond the oilpatch taking crude price slump in stride

    Today on the Hill: aboriginal families and traditional medicine

    Today on the Hill: aboriginal families and traditional medicine
    OTTAWA — Academics and legal experts are delving into the thorny issue of aboriginal parents refusing life-saving treatment for their children.

    Today on the Hill: aboriginal families and traditional medicine

    Aglukkaq didn't ask for apology over garbage comment, says junior minister

    Aglukkaq didn't ask for apology over garbage comment, says junior minister
    OTTAWA — The Conservatives say Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq never demanded an apology from a Rankin Inlet politician for making disparaging remarks about the federal Nutrition North program.

    Aglukkaq didn't ask for apology over garbage comment, says junior minister

    Harper, Couillard and Gallant to attend la Francophonie summit in Senegal

    Harper, Couillard and Gallant to attend la Francophonie summit in Senegal
    DAKAR, Senegal — Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the premiers of Quebec and New Brunswick will attend this weekend's summit of la Francophonie which could see ex governor general Michaelle Jean become secretary-general of the organization.

    Harper, Couillard and Gallant to attend la Francophonie summit in Senegal