An email from my mother this morning gave me pause. My grade one teacher, Mme. Johnson, passed away. She was two years younger than my mum. Mme. Johnson died after a hard-fought battle with breast cancer.

It is with sadness that we acknowledge the death of Evelyn Johnson. Evelyn began with Edmonton Catholic Schools in 1970 at Grandin School. She resigned for family reasons in 1974 and returned to Our Lady of Lourdes School in 1978. She then taught at St. Stanislaus and Holy Cross from which she resigned as well in 1989. She returned again in 1991 and was assigned to St. Angela School. She retired from there in 2003.

A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, Dec 8th at Holy Family Parish in St. Albert. Please watch the Edmonton Journal for exact time.

Que son âme et l’âme de tous les défunts, reposent en paix.

I have a clear memory of Mme. Johnson’s face back in 1986 – soft yet stern.

I remember the classroom layout vaguely. My most profound memory is when I was accidentally stabbed in the hand with a sharpened pencil by a kid named Jason.

Mme. Johnson was the perfect teacher to bring me around to how cool school could be. I’m sure her other students thought just as highly of her.

I hope she’s found peace.

cancer, death, life, sadness, school