Obituary of Cecilia Annette Welsh

WELSH, Cecilia

December 15, 1948 – June 27, 2021

In the late hours of Sunday, June 27, 2021, Cecilia Welsh, a strong, beautiful, and courageous Métis woman passed into the Spirit World, where she was welcomed into the loving arms of the great-grandmother and the great-grandfather. She rested with them for a time, then at sunrise they took her to be reunited with those of her family who went before. There to meet her were her parents Marion Amyotte and Little Joe Welsh; her sisters, Marie, Stella (Mickey), Amelia (Billie), Pauline, and Madeline; her brothers, Frank (Toussaints) and Ernie (Pichot); nephew Randy Meyers; grand-nephew Mitchell Frank Brooks who died in infancy; grand-nephew Conrad Brooks; and nephew Dale Brooks who passed just a few days before. Remaining to celebrate the woman she was and to honour her memory are sisters, Norma, Veronica (Ronnie), and Kathy; brothers Paul (Buzz), Dan, Joe, and Jerry; as well as many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews. Cecilia’s journey began at the Métis farm in Lebret, to the road allowances above the Qu’Appelle Valley on the south side of Mission Lake, to Fort Qu’Appelle for one year, to Saint Patrick’s Orphanage in Prince Albert for eight years. After the orphanage, she spent the rest of her life in Regina where she attended school at St. Joseph’s Elementary, to Ursuline High School, which became O’Neill High School. The family was on welfare and Cec’s sole aim was to get off welfare rolls. She did so by taking any job that came available, like washing dishes, setting tables, and washing floors in restaurants. Cec improved herself at every step, from taking upgrading, a GED Certificate at Balfour Tech, to Hairdressing Academy, then on to become a successful and award winning hairdresser. It wasn’t until 1979 that she found her true calling, when she was hired by Mobile Crisis Services, counselling families and children in crisis. She had a long and successful career at Mobile until her retirement in 2019. Cec spent most of her vacations visiting brothers and sisters and their families in Edmonton, Calgary, Chilliwack, Tsawwassen, Terrace, and Fort McMurray. She came to know and love all of her nieces and nephews and they came to know and love her. She was everybody’s favourite Auntie. In the Métis culture it is said by the old people, that if good stories are told about you, it means that you had a big life. Cec had a big and beautiful life. Her stories will be remembered. They will make people laugh. They will make people cry. They will be sweet, and they will be healing. Please, no flowers, instead the family asks that you offer a prayer for all of those innocent First Nations children who were buried in unmarked graves and forgotten. Special thank you to the nurses on 3B at the Pasqua Hospital and at Grace Hospice and to Doctor Hagel and staff at the Allen Blair Cancer Centre. You are true professionals, all of you. A private family Christian Memorial Service will take place at Speers Funeral Chapel, 2136 College Avenue, Regina, SK S4P 1C5 on Saturday, July 17, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. A come and go tea will be held after the service for friends and family at 574 Hansen Drive, Regina, SK S4X 3B8. Please bring your own lawn chair.

When you remember me

I wish you would laugh

I also wish you would cry

Because laughter and tears

Sometimes express the same feeling

But do not mourn me

Because I have wings

And I can fly