In the early '50s a couple of Fergus guys started dating a couple young nurses who had just arrived to work at Groves. Bruce Skeoch and his new girlfriend went on a double date with his buddy Ivan Coffey and this new girl from Tweed Ontario. The rest is history, shall we say, for both couples. Rose Maria (Rosemary) Cassidy and John (Ivan) Coffey were married in 1953. Mom was the typical busy mother of the day, with a job, a young family and a farm life. That meant she was always running. The Tweed connection contributed to many happy visits to the town of Tweed in eastern Ontario. At the time it seemed so far away. It was a great place to explore and there was a sense of history there. Tweed had the last house to house horse draw milk wagon for delivering milk. That horse would plod slowly along the street, stopping just long enough for the "milk man" to run up the drive, drop the new bottles, pick up the empty ones and run back. Then the horse would plod on. The Cassidy farm at Tweed was rustic and beautiful. The river is at the corner of the farm and our Uncle Ken would take us down there. Mom was one of 12 children, I believe, I'd have to go thru and list them all to be sure. A fine blend of Irish and French Canadians. I can only remember one day where I had Mom all to myself. I'm sure there were others. I was maybe 5, my older sisters would be in school at the old Comnock school up the road and I don't remember where my little sister would be. We weren't doing anything special. For some reason I remember that day. It was just a happy day with Mom. Mom made sure we got our education and some worldly exposure. In 1974 she helped me go on a school trip to Spain. That was the beginning of a lot of travel and experiences for me and I have always appreciated that. Mom held things together around the farm as my fathers health deteriorated. We had a lot of help from friends and neighbours and I learned that we had the best neighbours anyone could want. My Mom was stubborn. Most people would have and should have sold the farm at that period. But not Mom. This allowed me to purchase our old farm in 1989 and build it into a home for my beautiful wife Judy and our children, Kaitlyn and Kyle. Grandma was proud of all her 11 grand children and very interested in what they were doing, like all Grandmothers. She was very excited when her first Great grand child, Galen, was born but I'd have to say she was personally pleased when little Rosie came along. Being closest to Grandma, we were fortunate to have her attend our many celebrations at the farm and build her into our children's lives. She will be much missed by Kaitlyn and Kyle. We'll blast a special fireworks off for you next May 24th, Grandma. Mother was a kind heart with a fierce reaction. One did learn to steer clear of that side of her. While her nursing skills are less known around town now, there was a time when many people mentioned to me her kind and caring way as she nursed them at Groves. Her days ended at Groves, with much younger nurses, much like she was 70 years ago. I would like to thank the following people: Dr. Steve Beamish, for his dedicated long term care of my mother. Patience is definitely a virtue when the patient is telling the doctor what to do. Right Steve? Dr. Nicola Munn, Dr. Beamish's intern, for her very kind and tender care, during the last weeks of Mothers life. The staff of Groves hospital, Kayla Knight, Lois Zettle and the entire staff of Arthur Caressant care retirement home, you gave Mom an extra year of life, Fran, a better friend, no one could ask for, Lise Stewart, you brought true peace to Mom in her final hours. I don't know how we would have managed without you over the past ten years, The many friends and neighbours who helped around the funny farm during the years of my fathers declining health. Jim Coffey