I was born in 1950 and our family moved away from Brantford in the mid-fifties, but for those 5 or 6 years, we had the great priviledge of having Edna Raycraft and her husband Jack as our neighbours. They were wonderful! We couldn't have asked for better neighbours and if I could have, I would have had them move with us throughout our lives, now that would have been a dream come true! Raycraft home became a second home to us kids, just playing on the kitchen floor while Edna busied herself doing whatever had to be done. It was a warm, comfortable place to be. My love for them has never diminshed through the passing of years. Of course, through the moves my family made, the Raycrafts became a pleasant memory. After my Dad passed away in 1986 we took my Mom to Brantford down 'memory lane' We could not go down that lane, of course, without visiting Edna (Jack had since passed away) It was like old times. Edna welcomed us with opened arms and a huge smile. It was a wonderful visit and I could not help but keep in touch with her after that. We would not visit Brantford again after that without visiting Edna. What was nice about Edna was how clear her memory was and how we would talk about those years in Brantford. My 3 older siblings had the priviledge of knowing her longer so she was able to tell me little stories about them. Never and I mean never did they make us feel unwelcomed in their home and never did they shoo us away. It is with a sad heart to hear of Edna's passing and I will never forget what she meant to me and neither will my brothers or sister. Her memory will last forever in my heart and I count it one of life's greatest blessings to have known her.
