More about Grandma

Thought you might find it interesting to read her obituary:

Obituary, 29 April 1939: Mrs Sophia Childs is Taken by Death -- "Was founder, with husband, of Toronto All Night Mission -- Descendant of an old English family, Mrs. Sophia Rebecca Childs died yesterday at her home, 55 Howard Street. She was in her 70th year and had been ill for some months. Mrs Childs was the daughter of the late Thomas Weston of Bristol, England, where her family had lived for generations. Her father's uncle, the late Sir Joseph Weston, was mayor of Bristol for many years and later a member of the House of Commons. She left England with her husband, Joseph Childs, about 30 years ago and after living in the United States for 10 years, they moved to Toronto and had been here ever since. She and her husband were the founders of the Toronto All Night Mission which did such good work in the Parliament Street district about ten years ago. Mrs Childs was also active in St. Peter's Anglican Church. She is survived by her husband and three daughters, Mrs Edna Johnson, a missonary in India, Mrs Margaret Meyerhoff, of Rochester and Miss Nora, at home, by two sisters, Mrs Laura Marsh of Bristol, and Mrs Edith Fisher of Croydon, and a brother, Major Arthur Weston, of London England."

Condolence Letters Part 2

8.  From Wilfred Yerex, Baltic Canadian Trading Co. , Excelsior Life Bldg, Toronto   May 4th, 1939

Dear Miss Childs:-  It was with a great deal of regret I learned this morning from Mr. Needham and Mr. Gertley of your recent bereavement - the death of your mother. Kindly accept and convey to your father my deepest sympathy.  I will see both of you soon.  Yours sincerely,  Wilfred Yerex

9.  From George Black, 119 Eglinton Ave West, Apt #18, Toronto 12  5 May 1939

Dear Mr Childs:- It was quite a shock to us to hear from Mr Bonyin [?] that Mrs Childs had been called home. We only heard of it after the funeral.  I hasten to convey to you and your family, especially Miss Childs, our sincerest sympathy in your hour of sorrow and loss.  "The heart knoweth its own bitterness", but God makes no mistakes, and very soon we shall all be united again -- it cannot be very long -- we can only commend you to an all wise loving Father who sees the end from the beginning. You sorrow not as those who have no hope. "We look for the Resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come."  May He give you grace and strength to carry on till the day dawns and the shadows flee away.  My wife joins me in remembrances and prayers.  Kind regards to Miss Childs and yourself.  Yours Sincerely,  George Black.

10.  From Mabel   Fordwich ON  May 5, 1939:

Dear Miss Childs:  I hardly know how to tell you I felt when your letter came the other day. It just seemed impossible to think that your Mother had "gone home" so suddenly and I surely feel for you in your loss.  Isn't it wonderful tho' to know that she was looking forward to being with Jesus.  -- it seems to take away the real grief of losing a loved one. I surely have been praying for you and I know the Lord will be "all that you need" in your trying times.  I will never forget how good you all were to me and I certainly enjoyed the fellowship I had in your home.

   Now that the roads are good again I will be looking for you up any time. We are always home on Saturdays so you won't need to write unless you want to.  I am chording a very little on the guitar now and I expect to be getting in quite a bit of practice.

  We had prayer meeting at Pries' last night and we surely enjoyed it.  Mr Berry was in for supper too -- it surely is a treat to see someone who is spiritual.  We are starting our Revival Services the last of May and we would love to have you here then. They will last a couple of weeks.

   How glad I was for the testimony in your letter that even now Jesus is holding you up and sustaining you. What a wonderful Friend we have!  I remember when you used to tell us in the SS class that you tho't none of us would grow up to be women before Jesus came. Now we will be able to look forward with hope for that day when we will all be united again and we can sing His praises.  It will surely be wonderful.  "The dead in Christ will rise first, the afterwards we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them ... Wherefore comfort one another with these words."  It is real comfort I think to remember that that day may soon be here.   Love from Mabel.

11.  From Walter and Dorothy Crone, pastor of the Evangelistic Centre, Temperance Ave., Niagara Falls, Canada  May 10th 1939

Dear Mr Childs:-  It is with deep regret, that we have just heard of the decease of your dear wife, and our hearts go out in deepest sympathy, to you and your family, in this, your hour of bereavement.

   We shall never forget what a good and kind mother and wife that she was, and her life spread much sunshine, far beyond the realm of her own home.  We shall never forget, that on many occassions, she was most kind to us.

   As we ponder the words of our Saviour, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" found in Matthew 25:40, we do not hesitate to say, that, our dear Heavenly Father, has great rewards laid up in store, for Mrs Childs.

  Please extend our sympathy to each of your family, and our prayer is, "that you may find much rest and comfort, in THE SECRET PLACE of the Most High, abiding under the shadow of the Almighty", knowing, that even at the longest, it is but a moment, until, with her, you shall be caught up together to meet the Lork in the air, and so shall you ever be with the Lord.

  With much love in Christ Jesus, we are

  Yours in His glorious service   Walter and Dorothy Crone.

12.  From Esther A.  St. Paul Minn   May 29, 1939:

Dear Nora and Mr Childs. -- This morning I received a card from Ingrid and she said Mrs Childs passed away about three weeks ago.  It just stumped me and I sure feel for you I feel so terrible that I did not know about it before so that I could have at least written to you before.

  Ingrid told me some time ago that Mrs Childs had been ill and so when I was down town after I got a card to send to Mrs Childs but as I had not written to you Nora for so long I wanted to write a letter with it but seemed I never got that far until I was afraid that it be improper to send this not know just how your mother was at the time so I wrote Ingrid to tell me and now she wrote this.
  I can just imagine your sorrow and the emptyness of her being gone. Its hard for the ones  that are left behind but the wonderfull consolation of knowing she is at peace and not suffering any more but resting up there with the Lord until the big day when she shall meet all her dear ones and be with you for ever. But the parting is hard and not to have her with you and around will be a hard burden to bear, I do realize.
   I have been find all winter very fortunate did not even have a cold. I plan to leave for home the 1st part of July and be home for a couple of months. have rader[sic] been wondering what to do. I have good pay in a way and not such hard work but "Mrs" is quite a trial at times and very much tied in can hardly get out an evening except my day off as I get through so late. Sunday I am through sometimes not before a quarter to four in the afternoon so it does get so late so am not so fussy on the job and I feel I want it to be with the folks for awhile again one never knows how fortunate we are or how long we can have our parents with us so I feel I want to go home and be with them this summer again even if I have to look for some thing else in the fall.
   We have had quite cool weather here for some time but has been quite hot today. Time seems to fly on so soon summer will be all over before we know it. Ingrid says she will be coming through about the 14th of June I sure will be glad to see her. Wish I would be able to come in to see you again also.
   I will now close and hope to hear from you some time Nora when you have time and feel you are able to write.
  May the Lord strengthen and bless you both in these days of sorrow.
  With much love, Esther A.
P.S.  My brother was married  again the 3rd of May has a very nice wife I like her very much. Also Laura is married Nora to a farm boy at home.
     {The writer of this letter was very sparing with the use of periods.  I have tried to copy it as written, so have fun making out what is meant!}

13.  From Bertha Fahy or Faby, June 3, 1939:
Dear Nora -- I have been wanting to write to you for some time to tell you how shocked and grieved I was to hear of the passing of your beloved Mother.  I know how sad and empty the days must seem to you since her departure.  There was such a beautiful bond of love and understanding existing between you and your Mother that I know the many precious memories will, with Gods help, give you strength to bear up in this great sorrow.
   You have been in my thoughts so much and I sympathize so deeply with you and your dear Daddy. 
   Let me hear from you my dear child when you can find time.
   With dearest love  Bertha Fahy

Norah Childs

Condolence Letters from 1939 when Grandma Childs passed away

SOPHIA REBECCA WESTON

14 Mar 1871 - 28 Apr 1939

born in Bristol England; died in Toronto ON

married 27 Aug 1899  in London England

JOSEPH GERSHOM CHILDS

10 Jun 1870 - 23 Nov 1940

born in Malvern Chase, Jamaica; died in Toronto ON

I found a number of letters from friends of my mother sent to her when her mother passed on.  I was going to put them in the recycling bin ... NOOOO ... I did put them in the recycling bag a few months ago, and was about to throw the bag out, when I thought that I would like to post these somewhere and see what happens.  There are 13 letters and 2 cards in all, so that is what I will start this blog with ... and who knows where it will take off to after that!





1.  From Anne B. McLean at 25 Maclennan Ave, Toronto 5   29 April 1939:

Dear Mr Child and Miss Child:  Tonight we have just read the sad news for you both, but glad news for your dear one, and I hasten to send on behalf of my sister and self our kindest love and sympathy. I am so glad I was privileged to have the sweet visit with her when I did, as a few days after I got "flue" and have been ill ever since. I hope to go out to church tomorrow.  We shall be remembering you both in prayer with a new petiton tonight that our Lord will make His Presence very real to you and soothe and comfort as He alone can.  Dear Mrs Child has left behind a very very sweet memory to all who knew or met her, and now she is gone to her reward. May our Heavenly Father bless you both, and grant you also strength for these days and sleep -- Again our loving sympathy. Yours most sincerely, Anne B. McLean. 

2.   From Audrey Wilkinson ... a card, undated:

So sorry for your loss, but we know it is her gain.  Loving sympathy.  Audrey Wilkinson

3. From Edmund N. Jarvis  171 Spadina Rd    undated:

My dear Mr Childs and Family:  You have our sympathy in the calling Home of Mrs Childs to be with her Saviour whom she loved.  I can immagine the joy that is hers in seeing Jesus Christ face to face. What is your loss is her gain. I feel sure it will not be long before our dear ones are coming back with Jesus Christ to get us so we shall ever be with the Lord [1 Thes 4:13-18] May our loving Heavenly Father comfort and sustain you and your family. Mrs Jarvis and Ethel join me in this.  Yours very sincerely,  Edmund N. Jarvis.

4. From Leah Stewart  May 1, 1939

Dear Nora: Received the sad news of your mothers death on Sunday evening and my heart ached for you. I am so sorry not to have been able to see you personally but as I am now working my time is not my own. Nevertheless I know you, though sad for your own loss, are rejoicing in the fact that the mother who has been so dear to you is gone to be with Jesus which is far better.  May God strengthen and comfort you as He alone can.  Ever yours in Jesus, Leah Stewart.

5.  From Annis Perrot   443 1/2 Rhodes Ave   May 1, 1939

Dear Miss Childs:  Do you mind if I have a little chat with you on paper?  I was sorry that I missed you when I called at the 'parlour's' on Saturday afternoon.  My thoughts and prayers were with you all day yesterday, but I felt rather shy about going to see you again, knowing that you had closer friends and loved ones with you.

    But because I know what it means to have a sweet little Christian mother taken Home ahead of us, I am writing to tell you how much I feel for you right now.

   We know that our Lord has answered the many prayers on your behalf as we could see that He has given you divine strength to bear up bravely under the strain of the past few days.  You have proven Him, that He is indeed a Refuge and Strength in time of trouble.

   The service was beautiful.  God's own peace on your dear mother's brow and in the general atmosphere was a triumphant witness to His undying Word that Death is swallowed up in victory.

   You will miss her, Miss Childs.  Likely you will feel like I did sometimes, that you just had to see her, or talk something over with her. But I'm glad you will be busy in the King's happy service, and the sure knowledge that it is only "till He comes" will help you bear the "little while between."

   I have been very grateful to you Miss Childs, and to your dear mother for your prayers and kindly interest in me, though I have not been able to show it to you as I would have liked.  I hope whe was not disappointed because I had the operation. I took it to the Lord and He showed me it was His way for me. 

  We do not understand all His ways with us, but like His people of old, "He led them forth by the right way". And praise His name, "all His ways are peace."  Even when He leads us through deep trials, He gives us the peace that passeth all understanding. Surely we have a good foundation to stand on in the storms of life and His banner over us is love. I have been so comforted lately to know that nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate me from His love. [Romas 8: 35-39]

   I hope these few words will let you see that we care.  May you, your sister and father know in deep measure, the comfort of Him who says, "As one who His mother comforteth, so will I comfort you."

   Yours in loving sympathy, Annis Perrott.

6.  From L. Armstrong  of 624 Spadina Ave, Knox Church House   May 4/39:

Dear Miss Childs:  I would like to convey to you my deepest sympathy in your recent sad bereavement. But how blesssed it is for us to know it is only for a short time and then the grand reunion.  This I know is not very comforting at the moment, but our Saviour is able to heal all our sorrows and in my own case, I know it was the means of a greater spiritual experience. So I do comment you at this time to Him who is ever full of compassion toward us.  You who know the Saviour so will will understand.  He doeth all things well, and in His own time we to shall understand. I know you will accept this with my sincere Christian sympathy and any comfort these feeble words may bring you. Yours in His Service.  L. Armstrong.

Sophy's coffin



7.  From Lilly Eyre   Toronto   May 4, 1939

Dear Nora, I have thought of you so much, and prayed for you, in the last few days -- for I always knew the love you had for your Mother, and I knew what that loss would mean to you.  It is so hard to let those we love so dearly pass from us, even though we know, they are passing to a sweet rest, and  that they have really only gone a little before and the Gates they have passed thru are open for us, and those dear Loves will be waiting to meet us.

   I tried to get down to see you Sunday, but I couldn't leave home.

   Maybe one day, when you feel you can, you would come out to see me.  I would like it so much and you could meet my little mother -- she is so sweet, I know you would love her.

   My thoughts for you, dear.  Lilly Eyre