Ethel Arlene Meisner 2000 Halifax Chronicle Herald Published: Friday, January 14, 2000. >From the collection of Gwen Christie Ethel Arlene Meisner, 95, Melville Lodge, formerly of Blandford, was promoted to glory on January 13, 2000, and is now in God's presence rejoicing with family and friends. Born at Farmington, she was a daughter of the late Charles and Phoebe (Mulock) Stevens. Upon completing school, she taught one year at Meisner's Settlement and then moved to Toronto where she worked with the telephone company for six years. Upon returning home she taught one more year before attending Normal College in Truro and then continued to teach school in Lunenburg County until she married Roy St.Clair Meisner in 1935 and became a full-time wife and mother. A mother with five small children and no modern conveniences, she always made time to sit down and take a child or two in her lap to cuddle and read them a story. In the mid 1950's she returned to teaching and taught for another 10 or more years in communities from Tantallon to Dayspring. Needing transportation to the Chester School System, she bought her first car and learned to drive when she was over 60 years of age, enjoying the independence a car gave to her and Roy. She lived at Blandford until 1991, when she and Roy moved to Melville Heights retirement home and for the past years had been a resident of Melville Lodge. She was church organist in St. Barnabas Anglican Church for 25 years. She also played for services at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Chester, of which she was member, during the summer months when she could travel. She played the organ for the Anglican Sunday School, Upper Blandford, and for the Baptist Church services, also in Blandford, during the summer months. She carded and spun sheep's wool for socks and mittens and other clothing and in later years was a knitter, quilter, and an avid mat hooker, continuing to hook mats at the nursing home, hooking five mats for grandchildren since she moved to Halifax. She was admired by staff, who watched her always keeping busy with her mat hooking, playing her organ, typing a memory book, doing crossword puzzles, etc., and she inspired other residents of the Lodge to start doing something again with their time. She played for church services at the Lodge, and practied her organ every day, getting and giving great joy with her music. She ws the last surviving member of her immediate family, having been predeceased by her brothers, William, Herbert, Clayton, George, Horace, and Howard; and sister, Ida. She was also predeceased by her husband, Roy. She is survived by her children, Barbara (Mrs. Manfred Kohl), Blandford; Sheila (Mrs. Thomas Robertson), Sheldrake Lake; Carrol, Brampton, Ontario; Carolyn (Mrs. Thomas Grandy), Halifax; and George, Five Island Lake; 14 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Flowers by family only. There will be no visitation and a private burial service is planned. Memorial serive will be held in St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Chester, on Saturday, January 15, at 2 p.m. Pastor Bob Rock officiating, assisted by Rev. Valeria Rhymes. Donations may be made to the Parkinson's Foundation of Canada, The Lung Association, or a charity of choice.