EIKRE o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2006-06-15 published
LOWERY/LOWREY/LOWRIE/LOWRY,
Gladys
Caroline
By Keith LOWERY/LOWREY/LOWRIE/LOWRY and Rob
LOWERY/LOWREY/LOWRIE/LOWRY,
Page
A20
Wife, grandmother, certified grapho-analyst. Born on November 28,
1915, in Penzance, Saskatchewan. Died on December 23 in Toronto,
of Alzheimer's disease, aged 90.
Like a Norse hero, Gladys overcame adversity throughout her life
with will, wit and courage. Her determination to survive difficult
times and to share the warmth of her kitchen and weave it all
into a compelling story became hallmarks of her life.
The early years were not easy for Gladys, the surviving child
of Norwegian immigrants Arne and Borghilde
(BERTHA)
EIKRE.
Widowed
early, Bertha moved in 1923 from Saskatchewan to Toronto, where
she took jobs in several households. Bertha's diamond ring went
in and out of hock to balance the razor-thin cash flows.
When the founder of Regal Stationery visited Toronto's Eastern
Commerce school to recruit a secretary, 16-year-old Gladys was
eager to be his first employee; a full-time job in 1932 was more
valuable than waiting for graduation. Within months, she assumed
all the administrative duties and soon supervised other employees.
Today, she would have been on the fast track to senior management
but times were different then.
In 1934, Gladys accepted a blind date with "the most handsome
man I had ever seen." William James
LOWERY/LOWREY/LOWRIE/LOWRY was a farm boy from
Rodney, Ontario, recently let go from Ontario Hydro because scarce
Depression-era jobs were reserved for married men with dependants.
Two years later, she married Bill and they moved to the family
farm, a challenging transition for a Toronto girl. But she earned
acceptance and respect from Bill's mother. The couple later settled
in Saint Thomas, Ontario, when Bill found employment with the post
office (and later became postmaster).
Throughout the Second World War, their Regent Street home was
never locked, so that young pilots and aircrew training at nearby
airfields could come and go as they needed. Many returned in
the '50s and '60s to thank Aunt Gladys and Father William.
Although their first child, Carol, died as an infant, Gladys
found strength, and raised sons Keith and Robert. She also found
time to lead the girls' club at the church and coach baseball.
On special occasions, Gladys would pen several lines of doggerel
tailored to a person, gift or date.
Through home study, both Gladys and Bill became grapho-analysts,
able to diagnose character and personality traits from handwriting.
Gladys gave presentations to community groups and at international
conferences. Her skills served local employers selecting staff,
lawyers working with clients, and police investigating crimes.
She also analyzed notes from girlfriends, teachers and supervisors
to provide her sons with clandestine insight into the characters
of these people.
After Bill retired, they rediscovered square dancing, and travelled
to jamborees across Canada. They were good neighbours to everyone,
proud of their sons' academic, career and family achievements,
and adored their four grandchildren -- but they never met their
two great-grandchildren.
Bill's first heart attack in 1978 was followed by several more,
draining his strength and confidence. Gladys was always there
to care for her love with never a shortage of conversation. After
Dad died in 1991, we discovered that Mom's dementia had been
masked by daily routine. Moving her out of our family home was
very emotional, and soon led to retirement homes in Toronto.
After 14 years apart, Mom and Dad were back together for Christmas
and their 70th wedding anniversary. Undoubtedly, they had lots
to talk about.
Keith and Rob are Gladys's sons.
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