Advent Calendar: Merle Jones

Merle Tydful Bordewick nee Jones

Born 1915, 95 as of this year
Lived in: Vancouver, BC, Canada; Bellevue, Washington
Married: George Bordewick
Children:
DE Bordewick
KE Bordewick
RA Bordewick
RH Bordewick

Merle Jones was the third child of Daniel and Bessie Jones, Welsh immigrants who had settled in Vancouver BC. Her father named her for the town in Wales he was born in, Merthyr Tydful. While still quite young, Merle met a young man by the name of George. The two fell in love, and in 1939, before George was sent to the East Coast to finish his training for the RCAF, the two were married at her parents' home in Vancouver. The two spent some time in Truro, where George finished his training, then Merle returned home to Vancouver once he had shipped off to England. She stayed with her parents, who helped her through her first pregnancy, and once George had returned from the war, the small family settled into their own home together, soon adding a second and then a third child. Their final child was born in 1957, and soon after, the family moved South to settle in Bellevue, Washington, where the two continued to raise their family together, and where they lived until George's death in 1991. Merle remained in their home even after George's death until her health began to fail, her children frequently stopping by to help her with things and to visit with her. Even now, the family continues to gather around her, and is looking forward to celebrating her 95th birthday with her on December 29.