A Fitting Farewell

by Hattie Dyck

An excerpt from Potpourri of Folk Lore, published in 2009.

From: Barbara Simms, Crowe’s Mills

   John Ward loved wildlife. He and his wife Jennie, of 50 years were especially fond of loons. He never ceased to be both humbled and inspired by their haunting calls. He taught his family to love and appreciate nature as he did.

   In the last few years before he died, his daughter Barbara and her husband Edwin Simms built a home across the road from him in Crowe’s Mills near Truro. Barbara wanted to be close to her parents because her father was ill with both emphysema and asthma. But, he was happy in that rural community close to

where he had worked for the Department of Lands and Forests for many years.

   The animals and birds and a pond close to his home were a constant attraction and enjoyment for the Ward family. The day he died, May 16th, 1995, Barb needed a bit of nature to help her with the stress of the day. So she took her five year old grandson Michael (Simms) and walked down to the pond her father loved so much. They stayed on the bridge for a while enjoying the sound of the water flowing over the rocks into the brook below and listening to the birds singing in the trees. Then they leisurely began to stroll back home.

   They were close to home when Barb heard the call of a loon behind them. As she

turned and looked up she was extremely surprised to see a loon flying along the road at about the height of the tree tops. It was doubly surprising because the family had never seen a loon in that area before. As it flew along the road it was making the typical, haunting call that makes the loon such a distinct part of nature. They watched it fly over their heads and it gave her the most peaceful feeling as she listened to it intently and watched it fly away. She said it went straight over her then and flew straight out the road past her father’s home, then veered to the right and flew out of sight. All the while it was calling to them. Once it flew out of sight and the call faded, it was never seen again and they have never seen nor heard a loon in that area since.

   Barbara believes that it was the spirit of her father. And the call was meant to tell them he was “free at last” as he had suffered considerably before he died. To her it was a source of healing. And racing through her mind as she watched the graceful bird with its haunting call flying away from her were the words that her

father had asked to be put on his tombstone. John Ward specifically asked the family to inscribe his stone with “Miss me but let me go.”

   Although the sadness of his departure was great and he will always be missed it was good to feel he was free. She believes her father, who loved his family dearly, wanted the loon to be a symbol of peace for them.

   In the summer of 2007 when Ed and Barb returned from a camping trip one Sunday afternoon they had a strange experience happen to them. It was a warm, sunny afternoon, they were tired and glad to be home, so they unlocked the door, entered quietly as they always did, and just wanted to unpack, have a cup of tea

and enjoy being back home.

   As they went inside they were met with the sweet sounds of a little girl singing. “We looked at each other and smiled,” Barb said, assuming it was their 12 year old granddaughter, Katherine, who lived next door. But, that wasn’t just right as Katherine never came there when they weren’t home. 

   After a few seconds passed they realized it didn’t sound like Katherine. They said “Hello” and the singing stopped immediately.

They went into the kitchen expecting to find someone there but there was no one in sight. Nor were there any signs that anyone had been there in their absence. The house had been locked up tight.

   They still laugh about that little bit of music in their home. “At least if there is someone living with us in our home, she sounded happy, and they can carry a tune.” Barb contends.