Elsie Elenor Mclean (Thorgeirson) nee Jonson It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Elsie Mclean (Thorgeirson) on Friday, February 13th, 2015. Elsie was born on January 18th, 1925 in Buford, Alberta to Abner and Adelia Jonson. Mom grew up on a farm near Calmar, Alberta and spoke no English, only Swedish when she started school. Her father died of a heart attack when she was only 11 years old. Her mother remarried, then died in pregnancy when mom was 15 years old. Elsie had to stop school to work on the farm with her older sister Cecelia when she was only 12 years old. Elsie came out to Vancouver in 1944 for a visit, and ended up never moving back to Alberta. She was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1945. Her first job was at “Copp the Shoe Man”, in New Westminster. Then she worked at Woodward’s grocery section. She met Edward Thorgeirson and they married in 1947, living first in Surrey. In 1948, Ed & Elsie moved to a farm in East Abbotsford, then built a house in Clearbrook in 1958, where they lived and raised their 6 kids until they moved into a smaller condo in Abbotsford in 1992. Ed passed away suddenly in 1993. Elsie was re-married in 1997 to George (Sandy) Mclean. They moved to Whiterock in 1999. Sandy passed away in 2006. Elsie moved back to Abbotsford to the MSA Manor care home in 2014. Elsie was always full of energy and loved singing around the house while getting her chores done. She loved her family and friends to be around, and both she and dad were well known for their outstanding hospitality. It seemed there were always visitors and the coffee was always on. Elsie was pre-deceased by her sisters (Edna & Cecelia), husbands (Edward & Sandy). She will be missed by her 6 children and their spouses; Judy & Rick Malet-Veale, Wayne & Lynda Thorgeirson, Sandy Thorgeirson, Rod & Dicki Thorgeirson, Keith & Donna Thorgeirson, Barry & Lesley Thorgeirson, her 13 grandchildren, and 7 (soon to be 8) great-grandchildren, and many other extended family and friends. The family is grateful to the staff at the MSA Manor for the love and care they showed for mom as dementia took its course with her. We would also like to thank the doctors and nurses who helped mom with her last hours in the ER ward at the Abbotsford Regional Hospital. There will be a memorial service for Elsie at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Abbotsford at 1672 Salton Rd, on Saturday, February 21st, at 3 pm.