Obituary of Nettie Watson

Passed away peacefully in Toronto, December 19, 2007. Predeceased by her parents and sister, Jean, she is survived by her loving husband Edwin, son David Mark, and sister Anna in Vancouver, BC and relatives and friends. Born in Medicine Hat, Alberta on October 21, 1921, Nettie came to B.C. at a very early age, receiving all of her education in Vancouver and at U.B.C Arts '43, BSW '47, and MSW '54. First trained in Business as a legal secretary, Nettie started work at CKNW and The Original Orphan Children's Fund. Social work included The Vancouver Children's Aid and The Ministry of Child Welfare in Victoria, BC from where she represented The Welfare Council of Canada in Ottawa at The Coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953. Always along with her husband, a lover of the fine arts, Nettie enjoyed playing the piano. Nettie was an accomplished cellist, playing in the Vancouver Junior Symphony in her younger years and studying with her teacher and friend Mr. Dezo Mahalek of the Vancouver Symphony. She also studied painting at the Vancouver School of Art under Lionel Thomas, and Japanese painting at The Japanese Centre in Toronto. In retirement, she undertook organizing the 100 years of archival materials of the Toronto Mendelsohn Choir for retention in the Canadian National Archives.