Alice “Edna” was born on January 30, 1930 in Toronto to parents Elmer and Mildred (Halliday) Thompson. In time Edna was joined by younger brothers Alan and Andrew. The Thompson family resided in the Davenport & Christie area of the city, where Edna attended public and high school. Upon completing her schooling, she began working as a nurse’s aide and then office secretary.
Edna enjoyed her trips north to visit family, and on one such visit was helping her uncle Charlie (Halliday) at the Chatsworth Fall Fair. It was here that one Melville Cecil Dailey spoke up and asked, “Who is that woman?” As they say, the rest is history, and Mel and Edna were married in Toronto on September 29, 1951. The couple soon moved to the 10th Concession of Elderslie where they took over one of Mel’s grandfather’s farms. Here Edna began immersing herself in the community by getting involved with the local Women’s Institute and Paisley Missionary Church. They soon began their family welcoming Glen (April 2, 1956), Heather (September 28, 1957), Laureen (December 6, 1960) and Kevin (June 20, 1966).
Once all the children were enrolled in school, Edna resumed local outreach. She enjoyed getting out to help her neighbours and community if she could. She often drove people to appointments, arranged social gatherings with others, and volunteered at Brucelea Haven. Over the years, she was involved with a variety of functions and committees within the Paisley Missionary Church. Her loving and giving qualities were ever present. Edna was probably one of the first people to embrace the 3 R’s: reduce, reuse and recycle. She enjoyed the warm summer months and then, in later years (1989 – 2007), time with Mel at their winter home in Riverview, Florida.
When it came to TV, Edna enjoyed tuning in to watch Edge of Night, Little House on the Prairie and Lawrence Welk, to name a few. Edna and Mel also enjoyed square dancing when able and who could forget her daily task of reading the newspaper!
In 2007, Edna and Mel were visiting Laureen in BC when she suffered a severe stroke. Unfortunately she was never able to fully recover and soon moved to Southampton Care Centre for further care. After a short while there she transitioned to Lee Manor in Owen Sound. In recent months, her health declined further and Edna passed away at Lee Manor on Sunday, May 20, 2018 in her 89th year.
Loving mother of Glen of Red Deer, AB, Heather (Ron Sowerby) of Goderich, Laureen (Glenn Ralph) of Port Moody, BC, and Kevin (Nancy Cabral) of Orangeville. Edna will be fondly remembered by her sisters-in-law Maxine Thompson of Sauble Beach, Lee (Blake) Williams of Aurora and brother-in-law Murray Clark of Owen Sound. She was predeceased by her husband Melville Dailey, brothers Alan and Andrew, sisters-in-law Veda Clark, Veronica Thompson and her parents Elmer and Mildred (Halliday) Thompson.
A graveside service honouring Edna’s life will be held at the Chesley Cemetery on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 at 2:30 p.m. A reception will follow.
Memorial donations to the Heart & Stroke Foundation or Alzheimer Society would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.
