David Chandler says his Aunt is still remembered, visited and well loved by both friends and family in the community.
“All her family, which is gosh knows how many, calls her Aunt Bessie whether distantly related or not. She’s quite the lady.” She is his true Aunt.
Bessie was born in Upper Cornwall on Dec. 22, 1904. She moved to Liverpool in the late 1920s to work at what was then the Mersey Hotel.
She met George Chandler and they were married about a year later. For about two years, the couple lived in Quebec for work reasons before returning home to Liverpool. They had a daughter, who is now Sheila Selig.
David Chandler says, “She was a hard worker. We often said what keeps you alive so long. She said ‘hard work.’ She wasn’t a drinker or smoker, just a good living person.”
Bessie often helped take care of him and his three brothers, he says, adding she has a special way with young people and adores her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He, like relative Carol Sampson, says Bessie also loves helping people.
Carol says her Great Aunt volunteered a lot, her favourite efforts directed at the Anglican Church.
She also took in up to 10 boarders at a time when still in Liverpool and cared for, at various times, related seniors.
“She was one of those people who worked hard but enjoyed her free time.” This included bingo, cards and, most of all, baking.
“She did her own baking until she was over 100 years old,” Carol says. She cooked and baked for everybody.” As a result, she adds people in Milton helped look after her when she aged. Bessie lived in the independent seniors complex in Milton at the time.
Carol says, “She has been loved wherever she’s been. She’s just that kind of person. She is a great, great person.”
David agrees. “She has so many friends. She keeps a book in her room (at the nursing home) and probably has more visitors than anyone else in the home. She’s a grand old lady.”
Well-loved former Queens resident turns 104
Well-loved former Queens resident turns 104
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Published on
January 16, 2009
- Published on January 31, 2010
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Mark Roberts/The
Former Liverpool and Milton resident, ‘Aunt’ Bessie Chandler celebrated her 104th birthday last month at the Mahone Bay Nursing Home.
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