Passed peacefully away at Chancellor Park Nursing Home on Sunday, January 20, 2019 Ada Green-Nemec in her 94th year. Ada is predeceased by her husband Tony and step-daughter Karen Nemec. As the last of the Green family (Green Family Forge) of Trinity, Trinity Bay, Ada leaves behind many cousins and relatives of the Bartlett family of Trinity and Green family in England. Born in Boston, Ada returned to Trinity with her parents Andrew Green and Jessie (Bartlett) in the late 1920’s as a very young child when her father took over the operation of the Green Forge from Ada’s ailing grandfather.
After her schooling in Trinity, Ada’s passion for books led her to obtain a degree in Library Sciences from Mount Allison University and graduate studies at Boston College before working as Librarian at Memorial College and Memorial University of Newfoundland. Being a very adventurous young woman Ada spent many years in solo travel around the world, foregoing more comfortable means of transportation, by obtaining passage on ocean freighters and other commercial vessels. Often her destination was one of the Scandinavian countries. She particularly loved Norway where she spent months at a time. Later, after her marriage to Tony, a retired Memorial University Engineering professor, she continued her travelling ways with Tony in a small motorhome.
Visitation will be held at Carnell’s Funeral Home, Freshwater Road on Tuesday January 22, 2019 from 2:00 – 4:30 pm with interment to follow in Trinity at a later date. No flowers by request. Donations in Ada’s memory may be made to St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Trinity, T.B. or the Trinity Historical Society.
Carnell’s Funeral Home
329 Freshwater Road
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I met Ada at CPark in 2011 while visiting my mother whose room was just a few doors away from hers. Ada was always friendly and welcoming and particularly enjoyed making a big deal out of giving a treat to our Miniature Schnauzer, Allie, who usually accompanied me. I could tell by her room’s appointments, its books and antique furniture and prints, that she was a very literate and cultured woman. Seeing the wonderful owl calendar she had on her wall sparked a continuing interest in those beautiful birds. Rest in peace, Ada. I am so happy to have met you.
Ada Green Nemec was held in high regard and with great fondness by her relatives in England.
In 1918 her uncle Cecil had settled in London following his war service in the Royal Newfoundland Regiment and his marriage to Jessie Dalby, with whom he had two daughters, Ada’s cousins Mary Elizabeth and Christina. In 1938 the London Greens made the trip back to Newfoundland, sealing the life-long bond between the cousins.
An intrepid traveller Ada maintained the ties with the UK. She was very fond of Yorkshire and the hill-farm which her cousin Mary ran with her husband Dick, and enjoyed visiting the great houses and gardens of Kent and Sussex with Christina. When Christina moved to live near her sister in 1988, the cousins were able to spend plenty of time together.
In return Ada was a generous and attentive host when the UK Green’s visited Trinity, including chaperoning Christina’s children, nine year old Richard and 11 year Jane on their first visit to Newfoundland. A trip which included Ada bravely taking her two young charges on a camping trip in a Winnebago, a vehicle almost unheard of in 60s Britain. When her Uncle Cecil began his annual summer trips back to Trinity following Jesse’s death, Ada would meet and accompany him with her usual grace and energy.
Richard is grateful for all her efforts when he spent a holiday in Newfoundland with his wife Ruth and their son George in 2004. They enjoyed staying in Ada’s house in Trinity, calling in at the forge and visiting Ada and Tony in St John’s.
We will remember Ada as an adventurous traveller, a resourceful host and as a woman of great intelligence and wit.
Jane Knox (nee Readshaw) and Richard Readshaw
Ada Green Nemec was my godmother and first cousin to my mother, Mary Elizabeth Banks (nee Green). She was a dutiful godmother. My Trinity, Newfoundland born grandfather, Cecil Green, and I visited Trinity in 1970, and I have returned twice more in the interim. Ada visited me when I was working on the Jenkins’ ranch in south Alberta in 1976 when she was attending to church affairs in Calgary.
My husband , Joseph Ormston, and I met up with Ada and Tony in their motorhome in Mazatlan , Mexico in 1987, and Ada, with her Norwegian experience, instantly intrigued by the Ormston name made the connection that the ‘Orm’ was the serpent on the prow of Viking longboats. Ada later visited us in Northumberland, England and was as ever companionable and highly intelligent.
Carolyn Mary Ormston
As a young girl growing up in Trinity Ada was a female role model. I admired her independence and her interests in education, reading, and travel. I recall borrowing books from her and seeing the interesting items she had collected from her travels. It was an annual tradition during the Christmas season for Ada to invite our family and many others to her home to enjoy cookies, cake, sandwiches and drinks. Ada would often show us slides of the various places she had visited.
Ada also gave me a useful sewing lesson. At that time she had a girl visiting and Ada showed us how to make Barbie doll clothes. I remember making a beautiful, green corduroy coat and she showed me how to hand stitch or herringbone the hem. I still hem my dress pants using that stitch.
Ada was also a Girl Guide leader with Nurse Morris and when I was twelve years old they took us to St. Pierre. It was a big trip for someone who had never been out of the province. I drove with Ada and several other girls in her little green Volkswagen and it was quite the lively car ride. I remember Ada thoroughly enjoying our jokes and my tongue twisters.
Ada will always be remembered by me as my mentor. Deepest sympathy is extended to her relatives and friends.
I have fond memories of Ada when, years ago, she lived next door to my in-laws’ home in Trinity. When we visited in the summer, we found her incredibly knowledgeable, insightful, and delightfully amusing.She was also very passionate about her garden and her cats, and I loved our chats over her fence on sunny summer days.
Her life was well-lived, and as an independent woman, she was in my thoughts as I would read the famous children’s story “Miss Rumphius” to my children- also a world traveller who strived to make the world a better place.
My deepest sympathy to your family. She will be long remembered.
Daphne Lilly
Ada was a wonderful person and friend. Many times, when I was a teenager in Trinity, Ada lent me books, from her variety of books, to read. We had some great conversations on many topics too. Also my mother, Sarah, enjoyed doing housework for Ada over many, many years. Jean and I would like to extend our deepest condolences to all family members.
We will miss that twinkle in Ada’s eye’s as her story or quip would be about to unfold! I/we spent many wonderful evenings of stories and or games with Ada and the “Aunties” back in the early 1970’s. My folks Gerald and Doris always enjoyed time with Tony and Ada for many years whether in Trinity or when they would visit us in Princeton NJ. Ada was a dear friend. In fact, many times Ada spoke fondly of “Aunt” Minnie and “Uncle” Will Jenkins (my great grandparents), and would reminisce that era with my father. She was truly a thoughtful and independent soul who lived life to it’s fullest. She will be missed but we are blessed to have been a part of her life. Much Love to All.. Ken Lockyer and family
A soft spoken intellectual with a breadth of knowledge, befitting a librarian. Ada was a close friend of my mother Dr. Daphne Parsons (Arklie) as they were both at Memorial University College together. Ada was often at our house for dinners and we often visited her in Trinity. She was a delightful person to be around even for us young ones. A life well lived . Ean Parsons and family
My deepest condolences to the family.
So sorry to hear of Auntie Ada’s passing. I have so many fond memories of her and her most-interesting home in Trinity. She was an interesting part of my childhood and I’ll always remember her interesting ways. Norwegian breakfasts with “open-faced” sandwiches will always stand out, along with her owl collection. RIP Auntie Ada, much love.
I met Ada for the first time as a student while working in her father’s forge. I couldn’t ask for a more generous person. I…then…..as well as now, will keep your legacy alive of you and your family’s history. Thanks you for the opportunity to continue on as a part of your history! Rest peacefully Ada!
Devin Hookey
I will miss Ada. She was a mentor and a good friend. Thanks to her I chose librarianship as a profession and have always been glad I did. On my frequent visits to Trinity, I was always invited to have a cup of tea and a chat and to view the many treasures in her home. It was always so interesting and enjoyable.
Thank you my friend.
Janet Martin