TRAGIC END: Daisy Wesley roze to death Nov. 28 beneath this tarp on the vacant Greig Ave. lot that she and her husband Alex Daisy’s spirit live By JEFF NAGEL TERRACE — You remember them. An elderly couple, she pushing a shopping cart before her, lean- ing heavily upon it for support, he close behind. Their poverty was obvious. And if the few who really noticed them thought they probably drank a lot, they were right. Daisy and Alec Wesley spent their days scouring city streets for fuel for their fires — even wood chips spilled from passing trucks. Anything to keep warm. In their final days it was a fire inside, fuelled by countless bottles of cheap wine, that gave them warmth. The fire finally died for 52- year-old Daisy Wesley on Satur- day, Nov. 28. She froze to death that day beneath the orange tarp that’s been their only home for months. " Froze to death-on a vacant city | lot otf Greig Ave. in: the middle: : of the most prosperous com- munity in northwestern B.C, “They’ve. been around here forever,’’ says Dale Solowoniuk who manages a business on an adjacent property. He remembers watching Daisy feed a small dog. ‘They always had some kind of little stray animal thal they were giving what little food they had,”’ he said. T: called home: ‘Enikpaveriy advacate ‘Gerry King remembers Daisy as ahappy person wha smiled easily. Ss On later she was dead. The couple survived last winter inside an old CN warehouse bes- ide the railway tracks, beside the Sande Overpass. They had been evicted from the north Kalum St. trailer they rented for 10 years. During last winter, Daisy was brought to the K’san House shelter for women, according to Terrace Anti-Poverty Group “They always had some kind of little stray animal that they were giving what litle food they had. ” “Everybody knew they were there. There was just nothing any- one could do about it They were - caught by the booze.”” Solowoniuk worried about the couple. Two weeks ago, while looking at a clothing catalogue, he de- cided he would order them:some | ‘ikéimal underwear, Twa" ‘dey Society advocate Gerry King. But she wouldn’t stay separated from ber husband and left K’san to rejoin Alex on the streets. . They spent last summer un- derncath the overpass. In the fall they moved onto the vacant fot - bebind Kalum Kabs. King said he would slip Daisy ~~ “ five.cor ten dollars sometimes’ N.O.W. Hil OVERHAUL PROGRAM 635-2292 | when the couple came lo the soup kitchen. ‘She'd take it,’ he said. “But she never asked for nothing. She was too proud to ask.”’ Daisy never talked about their discomfort. “She always seemed happy,’’ King added, ‘It took very litile to bring a smile to her face.”” King remembers talking to Daisy in the park about their plight. “I was expressing more con- cer for her health and fot in life than she was accustomed to hear- ing,’ King recalls. ‘She said: ‘Don’t you worry about me. God will look after Alex and | in the next life, because there is only so mutch to go around, so he gave us each other.’ “Tt brought tears to my eyes,’’ Daisy Wesley’s funcral was ‘held in New Aiyansh last Thurs- day. « She and Alex would’ have becn. inaivied 30 yeats cémé spring. <. The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, December 9, 1992 - Page AS Your Christmas donation guide The Salvation Army is look- ing for donations for its annual Christmas hamper program. Iv’s making plans to distrib- ule 400 hampers beginning Dec. 21. They'll consist of food and presents, says Salvation Army Lieutenant Michael Hoeft. He says it'll take approxi- mately $24,000 in cash dona- tions for the hampers. Dona- tions in kind are also welcome. Helping the effort are ihe Anny’s kettles which are now out in the Skeena Mall and at the liquor store. The Amy will take hamper applications until Dec, 15 from i to 4 p.m, beside Kondola’s Furniture on Hwy16 West. Donations can also be dropped off at the same loca- tion during the same times. Presents should not be wrapped. That’s to ensure that the right present goes to the right person, said Hoeft. The Army this year is host- ing a singles supper beginning noon Chrismtas Day at its Walsh Ave. church. < Those at the supper will receive a small hamper to take home with them. Volunteers are welcome to help prepare hampers and to wp gifis. kKkKkkk mas giving continues as the Golden Rule Society plans to distribute food to the needy. Its aim is providing enough food in goody bags for the needy over the Christmas week, says organizer Juanita Halton. She's out selling raffle tick- ets this week ta raise money. Prizes include three video movies, — an __ electronic typewriter and three Shames Mountain flex passes. Donations can also be made to the society at the Royal Bank. - The goody bags will be dis- tributed Christmas Eve in the More than 20 years of Christ- kkk The Terrace Child Develop- ment Centre's Christmas Tree of Lights is back up at the Skeena Mali. Proceeds from the sale of lights go toward various ac- livities of the centre. Those lights cost between $2 and $50. The centre is also selling Christmas cards, kakkkn Once again, the Terrace and District Credit Union is tak- ing cash donations in support of the Salvation Any hamper campaign. They can be made during regular opening hours. kk kkk Now up in the lobby of the Skeena Broadcasters building © on Lazefle Ave, is its Christ- mas tree, And there’s lots of space un- dermeath for items for the Sal- vation Army’s hamper pro- gram. The emphasis is on toys for infants and teens and gift items for seniors, says Sharon Taylor of Skeena Broadcasters. Don’t wrap the gifis. That’s to ensure the right present goes - to the right person. _ Those gifts should be in at Skeena Broadcasters by Dec, 17 to ensure they are delivered. on time to the Salvation Army. Gift suggestions are being broadcast on Channel 10, Kk kkk Providing a good Chrisimas gift for’a needy child is the goal of the KMart children’s Christmas tree in the Skeena . Mall. The tree has tags on it bear- ing. the first name of a needy child, sex, age and clothing size. Simply pluck a tag, buy a clothing item or toy and return it — unwrapped — to the tree. The KMart social committee will wrap the toy. The child’s name must be registered at the KMart store but the gift can be purchased at The Yellow Gift House on Hwy. 16 638-1808 * Bedding * Gourmet Coffee * Exquisite Collectible Christmas Ornaments vee * Kitchenware * Children’s Gifts UNIQUE GIFT IDEAS SURE TO PLEASE! os building just behind the any location. alternate school on Lakelse | Names have been submitted abr Ave, by local service organizations, 2 es ad er ssn vet we ame ar pi ete gree oe were cee Ft cae EK nH oir a ek ee “4s tae sy a Traveling World To Bring| : You The Finest In Gifts.