Oen Alting was another unforgettable neighbour. Originally from Holland, she was known as "The Ice Cream Lady" because she had toodled around Saanich for years selling ice cream from her little truck.
Kids ran out to the street as soon as they heard the familiar tune "Mary Had A Little Lamb".
Oen was a feisty lady. She was obstinate, contrary and stubborn but to balance the ledger, she was kind, compassionate and loyal. Her tenacity no doubt contributed to her survival in a Japanese prison camp in Indonesia for three and a half years during World War II.
Her strong character no doubt helped her overcome a massive stroke suffered in 1977. For eight weeks she was immobilized and speechless. Gradually she began to regain her senses. Being the determined person she was, she forced herself to solve jigsaw puzzles as daily therapy. She grasped her immobile right wrist with her left hand and then pick up the individual jigsaw pieces. She staggered from room to room using furniture for support, strengthening her muscles. Her determination paid off and she completely recovered from the stroke, finally able to return to doing her favorite thing - driving!
This time she was behind the wheel of a camper van. Every year she took off on a holiday through British Columbia or south of the border. At one time in her past she had been a rally driver, having earned badges for participating in that sport around the world.
Oen had a regal bearing about her. In fact, during her detention in the prison camp, fellow inmates referred to her as 'The Countess', partly because she carried a silver spoon (family heirloom) dangling from a chain at her waist. She even managed to keep her valuable rings by popping them into her mouth whenever she heard the guards coming. A heavy smoker, Oen was often 'saved' by a compassionate priest in the camp, who supplied her with pages from a worn bible in which to roll the tobacco provided by her captors.
When Oen returned to freedom she could not face a day without full make-up, which included brilliantly painted finger and toe nails. She loved to wear jewelry and was extremely proud of a brooch bearing the Dutch national symbol.
Each year, Oen hosted an Indonesian dinner, her ever-present cigarette firmly held between her fingers, even while she cooked.
On Oen's 70th birthday, Ken and I put on a 'do' for her. Her Dutch friends were present, and, of course, the neighbours. Note the ice cream cones at the top left of the cake. Another lovely cake made by my sister-in-law, Margaret Stofer.
Oen left a big hole in the tapestry of the neighbourhood and the middle of the hill is not the same without her.
What a lovely tribute and history. She never came to my area so sadly I never met her. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWow, thank you for this post! My sister and I both remember "the Ice Cream Lady" quite vividly, as she used to visit us on Agnes Street fairly often. We'd go running home for money as soon as we heard her musical truck approaching. I have to admit that we were both quite nervous of Oen as small children--I remember her brightly coloured fingernails and her "foreign" accent, along with her slightly aloof manner. It's amazing to read her story, and turn that memory into a real person.
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