Edna May Sanford

The family of Edna May Sanford (Holt) are deeply saddened to announce her passing on March 20, 2014 while in the Valley Regional Hospital. Edna was born on August 7, 1924 and lived 89 full, happy years. To Edna, every day was a good day. She was filled with the most optimistic joy of life and for the people in it. Born to Arthur Burgess Holt and Lois May Holt (Sturk) in Canning, Nova Scotia she attended Canning School and then Mack’s Business School in Windsor. She began her working career as a book keeper at the Stanley, Airfield in Nova Scotia, in St. Eugene, Quebec, followed by 4 years working in Walton, Nova Scotia where she met her future husband Graham Lafayette Sanford. She continued as a book keeper for Scotian Gold in Hillaton until her first child was born. Edna thrived as a member of the United Church Women (UCW), in Canning’s Trinity United Church, Edgewood United Church, Halifax and lastly in St. Andrews United Church, Wolfville. She was most proud to become a Lifetime Member of the United Church Women of Canada. She volunteered for the Halifax and Wolfville Meals on Wheels program, and for the Flower Cart in New Minas. Like our father, Mom’s greatest moments were when her family was together. She enjoyed camping and later years at the family cottage in Ross Creek.  There was not a child in Halifax during the 70’s and 80’s who did not enjoy the luring smell of mom’s homemade baked beans and brown bread every Saturday night. She was famous for her homemade bread, rolls and raspberry jelly (without any seeds)…not to mention holiday dinners. There was no limit to the number of seats that could fit around our dining room table, nor to the number of servings a person could have sitting at that table. She enjoyed entertaining at the cottage in Ross Creek the most…she always said everything was easier at the cottage. She raised her children and grandchildren with boundless energy and love. She wouldn’t miss a high tide at Kingsport beach for swimming nor a campfire on the rocky shores of Ross Creek watching the spectacular setting sun. Her best friend always and forever was her husband, Graham, together they raised six children and traveled extensively. They shared their love for 63 years of marriage. She was predeceased by her husband Graham Lafayette, and their son, Philip Russell. She is survived by her children, Gregory, Halifax; Arthur, Halifax; Margaret (Bill) Long, Lunenburg; Jane (Burton) McCann, Halifax; Scott, Halifax; grandchildren, Vanessa, Geoffrey, Cindy, Scott, Justin, Jocelyn, Natalie, Jason, Kristi, Donald, Maggie, Melissa, Luke; great grandchildren, Mya, Celina, Nicholas, Charles, Mackenzie, and Isabella. Cremation has taken place and there will be no visitation by family request. A memorial service and reception to celebrate Edna’s life will take place on Sunday, March 23, 2014 at 4:30 p.m. in the White Family Funeral Home, 100 Cornwallis Street, Kentville, Annika Sangster officiating. A private family burial will take place in the Hillaton Cemetery, Kings County. Edna and the family wish to extend a heartfelt thank you to the nurses and all staff at Kings Riverside Court, Doctor and Mrs. Nunn, her wonderful private care givers, Sandi, Pam and Suzanne, the Annapolis Valley Victorian Order of Nurses, Emergency Health Services and most recently the thoughtful and most kind nurses of Medical A, Valley Regional Hospital. In lieu of flowers, donations would be gratefully accepted to the Valley Regional Hospital Hospice Fund, or the Carey Me Fund (in support of palliative care patients at home). Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Kentville.