›› Shonna Bell
At least daily I think to myself how hard parenting is—and it is. While it doesn’t change my current situation in those times when I am so overwhelmed with parenting my one child, I try to think of my grandma Kay Bell, a single woman who raised 10 children. In addition to raising her 10 children, she contributed to the lives of her 22 grandchildren. As one of those grandchildren who relied heavily on my grandmother for stability, I am so thankful for the things she taught me.
I remember being with her one time and she had a little bit of margarine left in a container so she mixed the rest of the ingredients into the container—using it as the mixing bowl—and mixed up a cake to bake. I was in awe. I felt like she had made something from nothing.
That was the power of my grandma. She showed me how to be a strong, resilient woman, and that I could make something from nothing in any circumstance. Kay pursued difficult and numerous professional paths. She obtained her GED at age 50. I always remember my grandma reading. She was elected to the town council, managed the local Sears outlet, was a successful realtor, wrote for the local newspaper, and managed a large motel complex in White Court, Alberta. No professional milestone was as important to Kay as ensuring the best possible future for each of her children and grandchildren. When needed, she fearlessly advocated for each child and guided them toward careers best-suited to their passions and capacities.
I am so honoured to share her as an inspiration as a single mother. I am pleased that her commitment to education is able to continue even after she passed. Grandma Kay Bell has left Fernwood NRG funds to distribute each year to a single mother pursuing her education through the Kay Bell Scholarship Fund. The Family Programs team will choose a candidate each year to receive this amazing benefit. And each time, we will get to share with the recipient the amazing story of the ever-giving grandma who could make something from nothing.
