Obituary of Violet Vivian Lock

Violet Vivian Lock (nee Bradwell)

October 7, 1937 – December 7, 2024

Violet was born to parents William and Alice Bradwell, the eighth of twelve children.  She was raised on a farm north of Macklin and attended Meadowlands School until age 10, when the family moved to town and then went to Macklin School.

Violet worked at the post office with her father and for the Walkers prior to her marriage to James Lock in 1957.  They were blessed with 3 children, Stanley, Jennifer and Nora.  They lived on the Lock farm until 1984, when they moved 2 miles north.

Violet was the ultimate farm wife; grew a huge garden, made delicious meals at home and for the fields, helping at harvest, processing livestock and was the full-time gofer on the farm. 

She was a member of the St. John’s Anglican Church until it closed and then worshiped at the Grace United Church, participating in services and the fellowship after church.

She was a sewing leader with the Senlac 4-H Multiple Club and it was there she took a deeper interest in learning more about sewing.  She signed up for adult sewing classes and started making more clothes for the family and herself.  Violet even took a hair cutting course through adult learning.  She was an active member of the North End Craft Club and enjoyed learning new crafts and socializing with the local ladies.  After retirement from full time farm work, she made many quilts for members of the family, some of the fabric used was recycled from garments of her own, and it always made the quilts more personal and comforting when you recognized a piece, bringing back fond memories. At Christmas, she loved making wreaths and center pieces for everyone.

Because Jim and Violet owned the original Lock and Bradwell farms, it was the location of most of the family reunions, or just the relatives wanting to just come “home” for a visit.  There was always room at the table for one more, a bed for the night, and no one ever left Violet’s home without a belly full of food, produce from the garden or flowers, and the feeling that they were more than just family.  ‘Aunt Vi’ was famous for her chocolate cake with a cooked brown sugar icing, a request that never got old. 

Violet was happiest baking, crafting or playing a game with the grandchildren and great children.  Passing on her knowledge in the kitchen, creativity with a glue gun or infectious laughter when playing a silly game.

Violet stayed on the farm until Dad’s passing in 2012, when her and grandson Jonathan switched houses.  This started the famous ‘Bradwell Sisters’ adventures.  Gladys, Grace and Violet were all residents of Macklin by then and they traveled as a pack; attending hockey games, meals out, shopping etc. They were inseparable.  This continued even when Violet moved into the Villa Marie in 2016 to join her sisters there and then onto St. Joe’s in 2020. 

Violet is survived by her son Stanley and daughter- in- law Susan, daughter Jennifer and daughter Nora and son- in- law Cody Schock.  Grandchildren; Kim (Brian) Thomas, Jonathan (Kaleen) Lock, Amy (Ryan) Manchester, Cassidy Schock (Blair) and John Schock (Cassidy).  Great grandchildren; Colton, Blake, Austin, Liam, Harper, Aubrey, Jameson and Saige.

She is also survived by one sister, Velma (Joe) Downing; one brother, Sid (Mary) Bradwell; and sisters-in-laws, Rita Bradwell and Genny Bradwell; and many nieces and nephews.

Violet was predeceased by her husband Jim; parents Bill and Alice Bradwell; in-laws John and Rosa Lock; and many of her immediate family and all of Jim’s family.

Violet was a hardworking, selfless and generous person. A great legacy to her family and role model for many.

A funeral for Violet will be held on Saturday, December 14, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. (Saskatchewan Time) at the Grace United Church in Macklin, Saskatchewan with Pastor Paul McCormick officiating. The funeral will be live streamed through the Gregory’s Funeral Home Inc. website. A time of fellowship and refreshments will follow at the Macklin Golf Course Clubhouse.

Gregory's Funeral Home Inc.

www.gregorysfuneralhomes.com