Elsie Gladys Byrne

EULOGY ELSIE GLADYS BYRNE Elsie Gladys was born on 16th July 1918 in Dalby, the second child of Minna Elizabeth (nee Stehn) and Gustav Henry Adolf Koehler. She was baptised into the Lutheran faith in the Yamsion Lutheran Church where she worshipped, attended Sunday School, was confirmed and participated in Luther League. Elsie lived at Yamsion with her parents and siblings, older brother Albert, and sisters Irene and Marie. As a result of congenital dislocated hips, Elsie spent a great deal of her early years in hospital in Sydney, often without her family, so far away. Even from an early age, Elsie showed the strength and determination which served her well throughout her life. Despite her many stays in hospital, Elsie managed to live a normal life joining in with whatever was going down. There was not much Elsie couldn't do. She was always open to try anything. As a child she attended Yamsion State School to which she rode her much loved pony Pearl. Elsie was always a thrill seeker. She would ride Pearl at breakneck speed, much to the dismay of her Aunt May who lived between the school and the family home. Aunt May would get on the phone to Min and tell her all of Elsie's antics. She would be met by her Mum who knew her every move when she arrived home. I am sure she would have been given a strong dressing down! After she finished school she helped out at home as the expectation was in those days. She always displayed an interest and talent in sewing, having started making dolls clothes at the age of 4. When her dad refused to let her become a hairdresser, Elsie was allowed to do a course in sewing in Brisbane and later worked in Dalby for a dressmaker. She had a special gift for creating bridal gowns, often having dressed the entire bridal party and many of the guests. Elsie met Jim when he was working in the cheese factory at Yamsion. Her father delighted in inviting him in for a cuppa and then asking Elsie to bring out the cake as she was a spectacular cook. She apparently was not impressed. Knowing Jim, the cake would have been a great hit. This tall dark handsome young man from Bell eventually won her heart and asked her to marry him. Since she was still undergoing surgery, Elsie said she would not marry until she could walk down the aisle. Their marriage took place in Redeemer Lutheran Church Toowoomba on Easter Monday 18thApril 1949. After their wedding, Elsie and Jim lived and worked on their property "Cedar Plains" at Bell. During this time Denise was born. In 1951 they sold the farm and bought a drapery shop in Yarraman. It was a big learning curve for Jim, although Elsie would have been right in her comfort zone. She often recalled the story of Jim flying up the stairs to the house in a panic saying a customer was asking for “fanny net “ and he had no idea what she wanted. Mum suggested he get down the flannelette. During this time Leonie was born. In 1958 Elsie and Jim closed the shop and moved to Woodford where Jim was working in the Cheese Factory. Elsie related that this time was the easiest of her life. She continued with her sewing and a lot of her customers followed her wherever she went. In 1964, after the death of her father, they moved to the Koehler family property at Yamsion after the death of her father. She worked hard helping Jim with the dairying, looking after her mother and sewing well into the night to make ends meet. She never complained and loved having family and friends visit. She would always cook up a storm no matter how many arrived. This time was very difficult for Jim and Elsie with one drought after another. Despite the hardship, they still managed to put Denise and Leonie through boarding school - a remarkable effort. In 1974 they sold the farm and moved to Brisbane. Elsie had several hip and knee operations in the years following. They bought a new home at Kallangur where Elsie delighted in setting up a beautiful garden. Her garden was like heaven on earth for her. As all her granddaughter’s arrived, Elsie enjoyed helping out where possible and sewing beautiful clothes for them all. Birthday cakes were always special and she would be under instruction for who knows what creation such as Roger Rabbit, Strawberry Shortcake, guitars, you name it. She never let anyone down. She absolutely adored her grandchildren and that bond will remain forever. In 1991, her beloved Jim passed away unexpectedly. This was a huge loss for Elsie. She remained in the home until 1995 when she moved into a retirement unit at Bridgeman Downs. She continued to enjoy her sewing, craft, classes, gardening and cake icing, to name a few, plus spending as much time as possible spoiling her grandchildren. Falling and breaking her leg in 2006 forced Elsie to move to Northridge Salem in Toowoomba. She wanted to be in a Lutheran home so she could continue to enjoy the fellowship, attend church and communion. She soon embraced community life there, loving the staff who took such good care of her, making embroidered cushion for them. They became her extended family. She was always grateful and said she would recommend Northridge to anyone seeking care. In May 2012, Elsie’s health began to decline but when asked how she was she would always answer “Good” or “I have felt better!” She was so grateful of the wonderful care the staff gave her. In the early hours of Wednesday 3rd October 2012 God took Elsie to her heavenly home to be with Jim. Jim, I hope you have the sewing machine ready or you will be in big trouble! It was with her strong faith in God throughout her life that she was able to cope with the many adversities she encountered. Wherever she lived she joined the fellowship of the nearest Lutheran Church and became a member of their Ladies Fellowship. Elsie always made wherever she was her home and was content. Despite what must have been chronic pain at times, she displayed such a sweet disposition with a big smile and rare to complain. Elsie had too much she wanted to achieve in life to waste time whinging and complaining. She is survived by her daughters Denise and Leonie, son in laws Roland and Steve, granddaughters Melissa, Melanie, Andrea, Renee and Alyce, grandson in laws Ricky, Brett, Jim and Colin, and great grandchildren, Isaac, Layla, North, Quae, Tate, Chayce and Maddison. Granddaughter Susannah predeceased her. Elsie will be sadly missed and never forgotten by her loving family who adored her.