The Grandmothers::Josephine Hamdon

​I have been trying to find a good photo of my grandmother. Her name was Josephine Hamdon. She was the most amazing woman. She was born in northern Alberta, one of 13 kids. Her mother passed when she was 6 years old. She was the only girl at home so had to do all of the cooking and cleaning, baking, school and help on the farm. Her father was a severe alcoholic so times were very hard. She moved to St. Paul, Alberta to live with her sister at age 16. Her sister was married to a Lebanese boy from a small town named Laila in the Beqaa Valley. His friend came to visit him and met my grandmother and they got married.  My grandparents moved to Lac La Biche where they had a mink farm. Eventually they ended up moving to Frog Lake Alberta where they opened a general store/post office. My mom was born and raised there along with her three siblings. They retired in their early 50's and they traveled the world! She was treated like a princess but was the hardest worker you ever met. My brother and I lived with them for two years while we were in Elementary school. Then I lived with them again as an adult when my grandfather started to fail. She was the most amazing cook and the best baker around. Ukrainian food and Lebanese food, can you imagine how delicious. 

​~ Nadine Johnson