MIKKELSEN, Grethe Sophie - Grethe Sophie Mikkelsen passed away peacefully on November 26, 2020. She was listening to her favourite music as she went to join her husband Hans who predeceased her Feb. 28, 2020.
Grethe fought long and hard to stay with us, amid the isolation and hardships of the pandemic. We are comforted that she is at peace and pain-free at last. Grethe and Hans were a team for 73 years and it was inevitable she needed to be with him, dancing and singing as always.
Grethe leaves behind her children: Jan (late Maria, Mary Ellen) Preben Joanne) Marilyn (late Ron, Ralph), Allan (Jayne), grandchildren: Jamye (Noelle), Daryn, Tania ( Brian), Carrie (late Ryan), Sarah (Ben), Nicole, Conor, Mieke (Emily), and great grandchildren Emma, Patrick, Sophie, late Hannah, Avery Jordyn, Logan, Carter and a wee baby girl due in April.
Spirited, feisty and adventurous are but a few words that have been used to describe this strong and wonderful woman.
Mom was born in Herning, Denmark on January 30, 1924 and immigrated to Canada with Dad and their two young boys in 1952, without knowing how to speak any English. She learned the language through perseverance and hard work, learning to write it perfectly. Mom also tried to learn to speak French and to the very end, she still said ‘pardon’ with that French accent. They lived in Val d’Or, Quebec for the first 12 years where Mom was a busy homemaker raising four kids, becoming an avid gardener and winning awards for her beautiful arrangements. She brought that talent to every house they lived in, eventually, growing and selling annuals and hostas in Rockwood where they retired. Mom was never afraid of working hard to keep the gardens looking fabulous.
They decided to leave Val d’Or and moved south to Huttonville, Ontario and finally settled in Brampton where they stayed until they retired from their jobs with the City of Brampton. Mom worked alongside Dad for 22 years and was his right-hand person. She took a typing class to make sure she could do the job properly and excelled as always. The City most certainly appreciated the team of Hans and Grethe.
Mom and Dad hosted amazing Danish ‘cold tables’ for friends and family, usually spiced up with a famous Danish schnapps. However, Mom hated Akvavit so she always had shot of peach snaps instead. Danish relatives visited Canada frequently and enjoyed the hostess who could cook, bake and serve without getting flustered. Coffee was always served at exactly 3 p.m. with delicious pastries and coffee served in Danish dishes that survived the arduous trip across the Atlantic in 1952. Many of those ‘cold tables’ were served up in Rockwood where they also hosted Christmas every year.
Not long after retiring, Mom and Dad decided that a cottage would be a great idea for the Mikkelsen clan. Rather than buying a cottage, they gave the money over to the four kids to buy one. It is a legacy, allowing a place for all the family to continue to gather. Four years ago, they decided that the cottage should have a pontoon boat. We managed to get them to the cottage three short years ago. Dad drove the boat, and Mom smiled the entire time beside him in the captain seat. Mom and Dad enjoyed being a part of every long weekend. Each year, we held a Regatta with games that tested everyone’s strength and endurance (not really). Mom excelled at the penny toss, not so much with the hula hoop, but she always gave it a whirl. Back in the mid 1980s when Mom was in her sixties, she was game to run the three-legged race with her grand-daughter Carrie. Not sure they won the race, but we all had a great laugh watching the effort.
Mom was the queen of the ‘magic purse’ and all the kids knew when she visited there would be boxes of smarties inside. She was the best grandmother who loved the kids in all ways. She will be sorely missed.
Arrangements are entrusted with Thompson funeral home, Aurora, Ontario.
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