It is with a tremendous sense of loss that we inform the community of the sudden and unexpected passing of our beloved Elsie Beatrice Fairholm, wife, sister, cousin, aunt and friend to so many.
Elsie was born in Pibroch, Alberta to William and Margaret (Taylor) Fairholm. Following her childhood and schooling in Westlock, Elsie studied and graduated as a Licensed Practical Nurse (1965) and went on to work in hospitals throughout Alberta (Red Deer, Innisfail, Edmonton and Westlock); she moved to Vancouver in 1974 where she shared her skills as an instructor in long term nursing with Vancouver Community College. Following a tropical illness which made it difficult to continue working, Elsie focused her love and kindness on her community and family. Living near her sister’s family in Port Moody and Langley, Elsie volunteered with hospice. She married Blake Hough (Oct. 14th, 1996) and moved to Quesnel, where she loved her garden, camping, her volunteer activities and a cherished life with her husband.
Elsie valued and loved deeply her family and friends. With a spirit of generosity, Elsie blessed so many with her time and presence; she had special relationships with each of her nieces and nephews. She is remembered with utmost affection for her heart of adventure, her love of card games, the one who made gingerbread houses, her laughter, her listening ear and being the confidante of so many, her baking and her crafty projects; she was the holder of tradition and family stories. Her steadfast faith and her gratitude for the beauty God brought into her life on a daily basis sustained her in the good and difficult times. Elsie lived her life in accordance with that which was truly important to her: faith, family and loving others. She is deeply missed.
She is survived by her husband, Blake Hough, her siblings – David (Judi), Albert (Bernice) and Esther (Wayne), her ten nieces and nephews – Margaret, Cindy, Richard (Tanis), Donna (Chris), Kristi (Ryan), Karen (Corin), Shawn (Elizabeth), Mark (Shayna), David (Christina), and Joylin, the 16 great-nieces and nephews, and numerous cousins, as well as Blake’s son, Brad (Katie) and many friends.