I'm sure we have a photo somewhere!

Emma Lund

Sundre

Description

Life and Work

Emma Granli; born December 27, 1884 (the last child born to a large family) near the town of Llehammer, Norway; immigrated to Canada in1911. After the ocean crossing she traveled alone by train to Didsbury and then on to Bergen to be near her sister Tina Haug and Tina's husband. For a while she lived with and worked for two families east of Bergen, helping with household and farm chores. Later she moved to Cranbrook, BC to be near her friend Emma Johnson and work in the Cranbrook hotel. On Augest 25,1920, Emma Granli exchanged wedding vows with Andrew Lund in Cranbrook. Two years later the young coupe purchased a farm near Bergen that had been established by the Person family. They moved, with their first born child, Louis, into the log house. In 1923 their second child, Wesley was born in Didsbury, followed by daughter Sylvia born at home in 1928.

Emma was a very busy woman. Aside from raising three children and managing the family home she took on responsibility for the care of the milk cows, sheep and chickens. Lucky were her beloved animals that thrive under her care. She insisted on doing all the milking and delivering the cream to Sundre once a wee by horse and buggy. Every year Bob Jones sheared her sheep and she sold the wool. Once her ram bowed her over and she suffered a back injury that caused her grief for a long time. Water was hauled up a hill in a stone boat to a cistern. Like most pioneer women, Emma had a vegetable garden. She processed the produce from her garden as well as the wild berries that were so plentiful in those days. She found time for involvement in the Bergen church and ladies Aid. Emma's children attended Begen school. Norweigian was the only language spoken in the home so Louis started school unable to speak English. Eventually, the family built a beautiful home. The bergen cemetery is located at the corner of the Lunds property. After Emma's sister Tina died, Emma, dressed in white apparel, visited her sisters grave at dusk with flowers. A neighbor, driving sown the raod with a team and buggy, glanced into the cemetery, thought he was seeing a ghost, and whipped his horses into a full gallop to get away as quickly as possible.

Emma's Husband (Andrew) died April 08, 1954 at the age of 75. Emma stayed on the farm for a few years before moving to Edmonton to live with daughter Sylvia. She spent her last 10 year in a nursing home at Linden. Emma died August 07, 1978 at the age of 93. Her son Louis and his wife Mary describe her as a kind, hard working, down to earth person who was great cook that never seemed to measure anything. When I look at her in pictures, especially those taken when she was young, I see a beautiful, confidant, dignified young woman.


Associated Member Museum: Sundre and District Museum