Shadwick, Elsie Frances Faith (née Bowman) (Died)

SHADWICK, Frances

Frances Shadwick died on July 18, 2021, in the house she helped to build, just weeks before what would have been her 100th birthday.

Elsie Frances Faith Bowman, daughter of John F. Bowman and Ruby Grace Bowman (John's second cousin) was born on August 31, 1921 in Dundas County, Ontario to a farming family of Loyalist descendants. Some of the buildings she remembered from her youth are now under the waters of the St Lawrence Seaway and a few are in Upper Canada Village.

She was the last survivor of 10 children, four sisters and five brothers (a sixth brother died shortly after birth).

As a teenager she left school and came to London where she met William E. (Bill) Shadwick, whom she married in 1942.

There followed a honeymoon canoe trip, a move to Montreal while Bill attended the Radar School, and anxious years back in London, waiting for his return from a posting to the Royal Air Force in England. Largely self-educated, her abilities and hard work soon saw her managing departments of the store she worked in.

After the war, Frances and Bill decided to build themselves a house. They did just that, entirely with their own labour (with hand tools) and help from friends (aside from the excavation for the foundation).

They repeated this feat about ten years later to build a family cottage in Halliburton. This time felling trees and pulling stumps in the process-and all by hand once more. In spite of having sworn never to repeat the first experience, she helped build a stone and brick fireplace there as well.

Frances had a long and happy life in London, as a 'homemaker' in the fullest sense of the word.

She was an expert cook, an avid collector of recipe books and recipes, some closely guarded, a keen gardener and backyard bird watcher and a voracious reader. She was accomplished at sewing, crocheting and knitting, producing gifts that delighted multiple generations.

She maintained a lifelong interest in learning and never hesitated to express an opinion or to employ her keen sense of humour.

Via video calls, she was able to keep up with family dispersed over three continents until the end.

Predeceased by Bill in 1993, she is survived by three sons, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A Funeral Service will be held Friday, July 30, 2021 at 12 noon at Our Saviour Lutheran Church (1449 Brydges Street, London, Ontario) of which she was a member since its inception. Burial to follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery. In care of Needham Funeral Service (520 Dundas Street, London, Ontario - 519-434-9141). Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.needhamfuneralhome.com