September is a very quiet month for birthdays in our family – there’s not one birthday! Well, I guess that means I must find someone in our family tree that would cover that for us. Let’s see who we can come up with……..

Beatrice Aileen Matthew, also known as, Aunt Lena! Great-aunt Lena is the sister of my grandmother, Irene. There are a couple of reasons I wanted to bring Aunt Lena’s memory back into our lives.

Beatrice Aileen Matthew was born on September 19, 1897, and passed away on September 19, 1983 – on her birthday.

Aunt Lena was the only sibling of my grandmother’s that I remember knowing. This is because at one time, she had lived with Grandma, and we spent many family dinners visiting with her.

Beatrice Eileen Matthew was born to Alfred Henry Poltair Matthew and Stella (“Tilla”) Evalina Hartford on September 19, 1897, in Cloverdale, British Columbia, as indicated on the BC Archives Birth Index below. She is the 5^th of 10 children (Grandma was the last child). In all other documents I have found, her middle name is indicated as “Aileen”, as well as her signature found on two documents. I do not have a copy of the actual Registration of Birth, not sure if a copy can be ordered – something to look at in the future. But for now, I will continue with “Eileen” until proven otherwise.

In the 1901 Canada Census, it shows the family living in Langley Village (unincorporated) – the electoral maps for 1901 are not available. We can only assume it is the Cloverdale area.

Interesting enough, the family is listed in the 1905 Kansas Census as living in Quindaro, Wyandotte, Kansas. Her father’s occupation is listed as “Carpenter”. Other residences around their home, list occupations like that of Alfred. Talking about the history of the area could take up a couple of posts so I’ll let you do the research – I suggest you do as it has some very interesting history!

I’m not sure how long they stayed in Kansas. The 1911 Canada Census shows the now growing family of nine back in British Columbia specifically in the Maple Ridge/Port Haney district.

At the age of 24, Beatrice married Gordon Miller Cowell at St. Paul’s Church, Vancouver. Here’s a copy of the Certificate of Registration of Marriage. I really like her occupation – chocolate dipper! At this time, the residence is shown as 715 – 5^th Avenue, New Westminster.

A lot of speculation can happen at this point. There is no indication Beatrice and Gordon ever had children. Also, I’ve been unable to locate either of them in the 1921 Canada Census. However, I did find a Border Crossing record for Gordon dated April 1934 which shows their residence to be in East Vancouver.

Unfortunately, Gordon was unwell having had an operation in 1929 to remove a brain tumour, admitted to the Provincial Mental Hospital (Essondale) in 1935, and passed in 1949 from bronchopneumonia due to cerebral defect due to operative removal of brain tumor due to psychosis with somatic disease. To say the least, he was an unwell man. I’m sure it’s safe to say life may have been difficult for Aunt Lena.

As I had mentioned earlier, Aunt Lena lived with Grandma for a little while – not sure on the time frame. However, there came a time when Grandma was unable to care for her sister and had to put her in a home.

This picture was taken by my mother shortly before Aunt Lena’s death in 1983, on her birthday from a cardiac arrest.

As indicated on the Registration of Death, Beatrice was cremated and she is at Victory Memorial Park, Surrey.

I remember little of Aunt Lena other than at the family dinners. But I do remember she had a great smile as evident by her picture.

Happy Birthday, Aunt Lena, and I’m happy we get to know you a little more 39 years after your passing.

Take care, everyone!