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'Notes on Christmas': One Chilliwack family's holidays through the years
Marie Weeden's 'Notes on Christmas' document the universal themes of Christmas in through her holiday memories of 1967, 1968, and 1988
Grace Kennedy
November 29, 2024
Marie Weeden standing on a mountain while wearing a sweater woven by Salish artist Amy Cooper. Marie is in her 20s in this photo, around the same age as when she was writing her earliest ‘Notes on Christmas.’ 📷 Photograph courtesy of the Chilliwack Museum and Archives 2018.009.003
This story first appeared in the November 2024 History Edition of the Fraser Valley Current newsletter. Subscribe for free to get Fraser Valley news in your email every weekday morning.
Marie Weeden has always been a part of Chilliwack.
Born into the Wells family—one of the preeminent settler families in the area—Marie grew up enveloped in the importance of history. Her father, Oliver Wells, not only ran the historic Edenbank Farm, established by his grandfather in 1867, but also helped revive Salish weaving practices with his Indigenous neighbours. He was an amateur ethnologist, and the first president of the Chilliwack Historical Society.
When he passed, Marie took up his mantle—editing his manuscripts, publishing his work, and continuing his advocacy for Indigenous art. But Marie was also a woman of her own passions and projects.
She made a decade-long attempt to preserve her family home for future generations, advocated for mental health support for her son and others, became the only non-Indigenous member of the Salish Weavers, created her own artwork—and, like any other person ahead of the holidays, worked to create a magical season for her kids, her friends, and her family.
Each year, Marie sent out dozens of Christmas cards, checking off the ones she had sent in a dedicated holiday address book. And each year, she would take a moment to write down her memories of the season—notes of joy and connection, but also of heartache and loss.
Marie’s Notes on Christmas now resides at the Chilliwack Archives, along with many of the other diaries and writings from her and her family.
Today, join us as we step into the past with Marie, and share in the universal feelings of love, hope, and melancholy that each holiday season brings.
We begin in 1967, when Marie and her husband Dick set off on a skiing trip to Silver Star, and Marie’s mother Sara took their children, Shelley and Geoffrey, for the week.
The entries have been lightly edited for spelling and grammar.
From the diary of Sara Wells, 1967
Dec. 4
Not a bad day, weather worse
Geoff woke at 6am, tooth came out! Kept him quiet in my bed til 7 when Shelley came in too. All up soon after. S. went to JA after school and G. had a riding lesson. O and Kale Y went to Seabird.
Dec. 5
Very busy day — children went to play at Watson School with Mrs. Walter. Ollie had session meeting. Kitten broke 2 of my green teacups! I broke a pink mug.
Dec. 6
Nice Day
CNLB banquet — I made pudding sauce and heated pudding — went to church at 12 noon. Had PEO ex. meeting here at 10am — coffee. Shelley went to Gail N’s party. A bit weary.
Dec. 7
Another busy day — PEO xmas meeting here. Eileen McKay and Sue Cape were initiated. The children went to bed like lambs. Good eats.
Dec. 8
Ernest Farrow’s 86th birthday. We invited him to dinner, also Kate and Cliff Pearson, Pearl Shaw, Ernie P., Ray (Mary is away), Rev. and Mrs. Nixon — the kids were perfect — a nice “old shots” evening.
Dec. 9
Rainy day — Sadie and Shelley and I went to Hospital Cheer Tea — there she saw Grannie Weeden and went home with her for a while. Marie got home at 7:30pm — had a fine week skiing.
Marie and Dick’s holiday done, they took their children Shelley (7) and Geoffrey (6) back to their home in Sardis. Sara and Marie took a trip to Bellingham together on a cold day in December, securing Shelley’s gift of a new Easy Bake Oven. Sara, along with her husband Oliver, later went to Seabird Island to pick up Salish weaving and distribute holiday gifts. She also baked at least four Christmas puddings and one Christmas cake. On Christmas Eve, Sara hosted her daughter Betty Purkiss and son-in-law Bob with a roast beef dinner—but, she wrote, it didn’t feel like Christmas, even with a loaded tree.
Marie, on the other hand, was reveling in the first Christmas where her home was the centre of festivities.
Marie Weeden’s Notes on Christmas
1967—Imagine! Cards started Nov. 23. (Because we’re planning a trip to Silver Star Dec. 3-9.)
I enjoyed writing letters to many of our friends this year and also rereading last year’s news. B and B were down from Powell River and the children had a wonderful visit. We all had a lovely holiday. Dick was off for three days and could relax. The Weedens came out for a casual ham dinner Christmas Eve, stayed overnight. We played bridge and wrapped the few last presents, enjoying so much our cosy living room. The fireplace glowed, the tree sparkled happily. The children and Dick with Grannie’s help had decorated it quite nicely. Our living room is fuller this year as we had Eliz and Gertrude’s sofa redone in greens and golds and it makes the whole room seem more comfortable.
5AM Christmas morning the stockings were opened but when I awoke at 8 I had to rewaken both the children. After just a quick juice and coffee served by Dick we had our TREE. Shelley was thrilled with a much desired Kenner’s New Easy Bake Oven and Geoff by a set of drums. (Cowboy hats and spurs from Nancy!) We had our second tree when all the others arrived from the farm and had brunch together in our dining room. The first time we’ve kept our house well used almost all Christmas Day!
Another year passed. Dick kept up his medical practice, Marie raised her family and kept busy in the community. Sara continued to help her Indigenous friends sell their weaving, and participated in her many organizations.
Kathleen Weeden, Marie’s mother-in-law, died in October 1968. Her passing deeply affected Marie and the rest of her immediate family.
Marie Weeden’s Notes on Christmas
Christmas 1968-69
Christmas is not the same this year. Our dear Grannie’s passing has affected all our lives. But plans are being made to send greetings to all our dear friends. We’ve seen Grandad off to pick up Mrs. Mabey and continue on to Richmond for Christmas with Joan and Gordon. Today, Dec. 15, Dick picked up our big tree from Bradner’s and tomorrow night while Nammy is in Port Coquitlam, they’ll decorate it.
It’s not entirely clear from the writing who “Nammy” is—but it was likely either Nan Denshaw or Sara, who both went on an excursion to see old acquaintances on Dec. 16, 1968. For Sara, then 67, it was a chance to catch up with the people she called “precious friends.”
From the diary of Sara Wells, 1968
Dec. 16
Wrote notes on cards. Early lunch. Then Nan Demsham took us down to see Yarmie and Wallis Way — I took holly and xmas roses — we visited an hour — sad but she is witty. Then had tea at Daisy’s apt. So nice — precious friends.
Dec. 17
Tues. A busy day but not much to show for it. Ollie took Bruce to Langley to get 3 white N.Z. rabbits. They didn’t get home till 6:30 — rainy evening. Lots of cards and gifts. We worked on green table cloth.
Dec. 18
Wed. Dry and just freezing, beautiful sunset. Cruickshanks came to buy a rug, decided on Anabel’s. O.W. bought 5 fleeces from George.
Dec. 19
Thurs. Shelley spent AM here, has a cold. Got poinsettia for Aunt Aline and M. We went to town — completed almost all gifts — cashed sheep cheque, each $79 (8lb sheep). O.W. banked $1000 — new idea for farm future. Good! Completed knitting gifts, almost.
Dec. 20
Cold about -28°— had my hair done, brought home my “wiglet” — Marie’s xmas gift, really nice! Shopped in Sardis and baked in the afternoon. Lots of cards. Geoff and Shelley came to sleep — good kids.
Dec. 21
Threatening snow
Sat. Children went home after breakfast and came back in time for supper. We had a nice evening. During the day I cleared away a lot of jobs. Mabel and children sick with flu.
Dec. 22
Ollie to Church. I had to stay home — Shelley, Geoff still have colds. Marie and Dick arrived home about 4pm — a large day for me.
Dec. 23
We planned to drive to Harrison but got word that Mary was coming here with a rug and baskets. She didn’t come. All our lights are up and look lovely.
Dec. 24
A wonderfully unrushed day before xmas for me. All in readiness. Took gifts to Marie’s, we are to be at their tree at 8:30am. Dick on call—has cold. Got the table all set for 15 (8 leaves)
Dec. 25
23lb 7oz
Chilly day but no snow or wind. Tree was nice, got turkey in oven then went back for brunch. Purkiss family here at 3:30, very happy, more tree, then OW went for Eliz. Shepherd and her brothers. Barrows arrived and the usual happy dinner party followed.
Long after the holiday season was over, Marie took up her pen to write down her memories of Christmas from that year.
Marie Weeden’s Notes on Christmas
July/69
As we had known it would be, Christmas was a lonely time thinking of other years and how Grannie would have loved to join in on our fun.
Elizabeth and John Shepherd joined us for dinner and they are visiting here and the US from New Zealand. It has been a cold winter. Grandpa and the children had barrels of fun every night on a road which he had made all around the yard in the deep snow and in zero degree weather night after night at 7 o’clock he’d pull them on wagons riding Red. We could hear the screams from inside the house. Grandad Weeden returned home March 1st and Easter we all spent together in Disneyland. We also skied at Kelowna the week after Christmas in -35°, -40° below weather and was it cold! Also later spent two weekends at Whistler and one at Crystal mountain.
Christmas 1968 was the last entry in Marie’s Notes on Christmas for many, many years—until she found her old card book in 1988 and couldn’t resist filling an empty page with the notes of that Christmas.
The intervening time had seen many changes for the Weeden family. Marie’s father Oliver had passed away in a car accident in Scotland in 1970; both she and Sara were with him.
“We had just visited a farm in Aberdeen, from where he had first imported his Angus cattle,” she wrote in the introduction to her father’s posthumously-published book Edenbank. “On that narrow, winding road north we were involved in an accident. Oliver lived for a few days afterwards—long enough to ask me to pass on his love to each of his grandchildren and to warmly hold my hand. His beloved Sara had no doubt of her place in his heart.”
After her father’s death, Marie and her husband moved back to the family property, and began searching for ways to preserve it as a heritage site. Although some suggestions were put forward, the efforts ultimately failed. The farm was sold in 1981 and developed into a gated seniors community. (The farmhouse was preserved as the development’s clubhouse.)
Sara passed away in the summer of 1986, at the age of 84. Marie’s own family had grown: her son Dave, who had been born not long before her father’s death, was now nearly 20 and her daughter Shelley had married and begun raising kids of her own.
Marie Weeden’s Notes on Christmas
Jan. 3 ’89
Just found this as I was getting ready for Christmas ’88, and can’t resist writing in it as there’s a blank page.
Christmas 1988—How could 20 years have sped so quickly. I surely notice a lack of the energy I had in those days! Bridge party, all sorts of baking and activities. Now I just gradually and easily get ready with as little fuss and as much quiet enjoyment that I can muster. I didn’t bake this year at all but of course Betty brought her usual gourmet feast of goodies on which we gorged all week. Yummie! She sure can cook. They had Christmas on the 22nd in Campbell River and came over on the 24th. So did Eliz and Pat, who we enjoyed having so very much. They are a pleasure to have as company—always up and always enthusiastic.
Nancy came from work at Riverview for Christmas day and it was happy hugs all around. We haven’t seen her for ages—practically since last Christmas I think. She’s doing really well, happy to be a career woman at last, has her own place and makes good money! Those years of high school catch up and college have really paid off. We missed Rob, but he and his girlfriend headed up island.
Geoff was not good these last two weeks and refused to have anything to do with us … It breaks my heart to see my Geoff so very ill. And when I read about his old Christmases, or think of his joy of life for almost 20 years, my heart aches.
But back to Christmas. Margaret was here as usual and we all played Pictionary after dinner, which was fun. Dinner at our old table from Edenbank, here in our newer house on the beautiful hillside that I love, the woodstone keeping everything warm and the lovely soft glow of our blue lit, white sprayed tree glistening in the living room. David and Teresa happily visiting with us and Dave’s friends all home from first year university. It was a Christmas of happy memories too. And the joy to us all of Kyle and Chantelle, five and three-and-a-half. Such warm and wonderful little shining-eyed kids who think I’m a wonderful lady!!
And I love to hear them say “I love you Grannie!” And when I last wrote in this book my Dave was not even born!
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