Obituary of Zella Francis Hurd

It is with sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of our mother Zella Francis Hurd on Wednesday, July 10th, 2019 at the Circle Drive Alliance Special Care Home. Zella was born on November 21, 1929 in the Melfort Union Hospital, one of 3 daughters and 8 brothers born to Arnold & Evelyn Woolsey.

She attended the Rothwell School in the Clemens District, a few miles south of Melfort.  Zella always enjoyed school and liked to do well.  She would win awards for the neatest handwriting and clean & best kept fingernails.  Zella enjoyed playing ball with the boys at school.  Her claim to fame was having a good throwing arm – which she still liked to show off in her later years.

Once out of school, Zella worked at the Melfort Co-op and in July of 1950, she married Douglas Hurd and by 1966 they had a busy family farm with 2 sons and 3 daughters.  Zella worked hard on the farm, growing two vegetable gardens, picking berries, tending to livestock and caring for pets, taking meals out to the fields, helping with driving the grain trucks and taking kids to activities.

She was quite fearless and would tackle most any job, big or small.  At that time Zella had an excellent memory and could recall most Melfort telephone numbers when there was a need to call for equipment parts during her farming years. Zella was active on the local Spry School Board and was interested in politics and often helped out with renumeration.  Zella also enjoyed a lively debate about politics.  Zella’s travels took her to Hawaii twice, Cuba, East and West across Canada, Wisconsin, Texas and several other states.

Zella enjoyed the Care Home Course that she took in Melfort.  When she moved to Saskatoon she was employed by Nightingale, providing Home Care for seniors.  She enjoyed helping out the seniors in their homes and they enjoyed Zella’s smile, her energy and work ethic.  During this time, Zella met Arthur Ritchie and they remained companions for 24 years before Arthur’s passing in 2016.  They enjoyed watching sports on T.V, gardening, playing cards, trips to the Casino and spending time with family.

When Zella lived in the city she resumed her passion for art work – painting, sketching & drawing.  She would often still be up at 2:00 am & working on a picture and not even aware of the late hour. Zella also enjoyed crafts, making stuffed toys, crocheting little animals & knitting slippers.  She delighted in giving away pairs of slippers to her guests. Zella always saw beauty in the outdoors, the sky and in people.

She was a character and enjoyed having fun, music and dancing.  Even when she was a resident in the Special Care Home she could make staff & residents smile with her vigorous clapping after a musical presentation or shouting out a loud Ya-hoo! Zella loved her family and was always proud of their accomplishments and encouraged them to do well and live a good life.

Zella is survived by her loving family Patricia, Barry (Wendy), Cam (Sherry), Cheryl, Lorene Hurd (Craig) Van Asch.  Grandchildren Randi Phillips (Warren), Mia & Addison, Jocelyn Slivinski (Nic), Cameron, Alex, Micah, Dustin Hurd (Melissa), Jack & William, Scott Hurd (Tassie), Hunter, Jeff Hurd (Chelsie) and Logan.

Zella will be sadly missed and survived by her sister Darlene Foltz (Jerry), brothers Dale Woolsey (Janet), Dennis Woolsey (Beth), sisters in law – Betty Woolsey, Joyce Woolsey, Eva Woolsey, Marg Woolsey, Dot Woolsey and many nieces & nephews.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Yelland and the wonderful staff at the Circle Drive Alliance Special Care Home who provided loving & kind care for our mom while her health was declining. Special thank you to Olga Harvey & Kristen Hildebrand for all the hours they spent with mom allowing Pat to take a break.  Special thank you to everyone who visited and spent time with mom at the Special Care Home.

There will be a Celebration of her life at 1:00 pm Thursday, July 18, 2019 at Saskatoon Funeral Home.