LOUISA LEES was born in SHROPSHIRE, England in 1898. She emigrated to Canada prior to the Second World War. Here, she met her (also British) husband-to-be, ALFRED CECIL NEWMAN.LOUISA taught music in England. A HEINTZMAN upright piano stood prominently in her Montreal home. It produced delicate, crystal tones.
She loved the arts. LOUISA wrote poetry and spoke in exultant terms about painters who were able to capture the essence of beautiful things.
LOUISA and ALFRED produced three children.
The middle child was named CLARICE who, as a young woman, gave birth to a boy in 1952.
As the boy developed, LOUISA and CLARICE conspired to explore his artistic talent.
At a young age, he was provided with lessons in music (piano). LOUISA and CLARICE attended childhood recitals. CLARICE brought him to the McGill Conservatory to complete his childhood pianistic examinations, and LOUISA seized every opportunity to foster the boy's enthusiasm whenever he went near her HEINTZMAN.
When the boy was eight years old ALFRED, LOUISA's husband, purchased a gift for her; a set of oil paints.
The boy had already begun to paint, thanks to the foresight of his mother.
LOUISA and her grandson began painting together during the summer months. Daily, the boy would race his bicycle across many laneways with paints tackled to the frame of his bike in order to reach LOUISA and to 'help' her learn to paint.
More often than not, LOUISA prepared 'salmon sandwiches' for lunch. The boy always looked forward to seeing her more than he wished to be with friends of his own age.
LOUISA and her grandson spent countless hours together; painting, playing the piano and worshipping each other.
She gave to the boy all of the talents which he holds today.
LOUISA LEES NEWMAN died in 1965.
She was my grandmother.
I remember her with enormous affection.
STEPHEN CARON, February, 2010
1 comment:
Stephen, I had a huge lump in my throat reading this. I too loved "Ma" and have lots of memories of happy times spent with her. Let's never forget.
Love Lu
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