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Ida Silver was born on her family’s homestead in Valparaiso Saskatchewan on February 20th, 1917 to parents Rupert James and Nellie Greaves. Her childhood years were strongly influenced by both of her parents, her mother’s gentle nature, love of music, the arts, and all things England, and her father’s strong work ethic and dedication to community and education through his work as an elected official. Growing up on a farm in northern Saskatchewan with two parents and four siblings provided her with a rich childhood of adventure and responsibility – both of which continued throughout her lifetime. Her prolific and colorful stories include respect for harsh climate, hard work, limited resources, nature, seasons and unending opportunity for exploration, play, and discovery. The pioneer spirit was evident in her daily life, Sunday gatherings with neighbors, and in her ongoing values of the importance of family, faith, friends, community and the natural environment.
Although unable to pursue her life dream of becoming a teacher, Ida enrolled in Business College in Prince Albert and began working for the Department of Natural Resources in Regina. In 1942 she was transferred to the small northern community of Hudson Bay to work in the newly established office. When she arrived by train in the wee hours of the morning, she, and the other passengers were met on the platform by the town doctor Jack Silver. They met, they began a long courtship, and they married on July 19th, 1946. Her new role as wife, then mother, and finally grandmother became the most fulfilling and consuming chapter of her life.
The remainder of her life could be characterized by her passion for her family and her commitment to community service. Her devotion to her family was primary, and she provided the loving, supportive and protective core from which family life for her husband and each of her three children evolved. As well as the many and varied responsibilities connected to raising a family in a frontier northern community, she was a member (and often a founding member) of numerous community organizations and clubs: the Hudson Bay Art Club, Hudson Bay Figure Skating Club, St. Patrick’s Playschool, Hudson Bay Band Association, St. Patrick’s Women’s Auxiliary, Curling Club and several Bridge Clubs. In addition to these organized contributions, she pursued numerous passions and hobbies that enriched her personally as well as those around her: Ruby Lake, art, gardening and nature, sewing, knitting, embroidery, crocheting, baking, poetry, curling, music, bridge, ceramics, and traveling as often as possible. Her oil painting was especially important to her, and several of her paintings are hanging in homes and businesses throughout the community and beyond. She was the organist at St. Patrick’s for over twenty years and was a lifetime member of the ACW. Her generosity of time and spirit extended to the support of many charities, each of which had a special place in her heart, and often a magnet on her fridge!
Perhaps nothing describes the life of Ida more than the warmth and power of her indomitable spirit. She deeply touched everyone she met, she created profound relationships, and she enriched all of us in ways that will continue long after her death. In the words of Maya Angelou, “You will forget what people say, you will forget what people do, but you will never forget how people make you feel.” Wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend, neighbor, acquaintance: she made us feel special, she made us feel important, she made us feel valued. Rest in peace, in love, with God.
Ida Silver passed away in Edmonton on August 28th, 2014 at the age of 97. She was predeceased by her parents Rupert James and Nellie Greaves, her brothers Jack and Bernard, her sisters Barbara and Beryl, and her husband Jack. She is survived by her children: Maita (Jim Bowron) Janice (Fred Fisher) and David as well as three granddaughters, Rebecca, Jaclyn and Rachel.

The House by the Side of the Road
by: Sam Walter Foss

There are hermit souls that live withdrawn
In the place of their self-content;
There are souls like stars, that dwell apart,
In a fellowless firmament;
There are pioneer souls that blaze the paths
Where highways never ran
But let me live by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

Let me live in a house by the side of the road
Where the race of men go by
The men who are good and the men who are bad
As good and as bad as I.
I would not sit in the scorner’s seat
Nor hurl the cynic’s ban
Let me live in a house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

I see from my house by the side of the road
By the side of the highway of life
The men who press with the ardor of hope
The men who are faint with the strife,
But I turn not away from their smiles and tears,
Both parts of an infinite plan
Let me live in a house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

I know there are brook-gladdened meadows ahead,
And mountains of wearisome height;
That the road passes on through the long afternoon
And stretches away to the night.
And still I rejoice when the travelers rejoice
And weep with the strangers that moan,
Nor live in my house by the side of the road
Like a man who dwells alone.

Let me live in my house by the side of the road,
Where the race of men go by
They are good, they are bad, they are weak, they are strong,
Wise, foolish - so am I.
Then why should I sit in the scorner’s seat,
Or hurl the cynic’s ban?
Let me live in my house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.