Group Photo: This year’s hostesses are, front row from left, Doreen McNair, Linda Bromley, Sherry White and Lynn Dupuis. Back row from left, Anne Bromley, Jackie Bromley, Brenda Grady, Eileen de Haan, Danielle Thomas, Leatrice Norlock, Shannon Dunfield, Pauline Wright, Pam Bertrand and Mona Lacroix.
WESTMEATH – Women laughed, some cried, as the stories of the Travelling Tea Cup were read by each of the hostesses the cup travelled with over the past year.
The Travelling Tea Cup was a project started by Linda Rose during the 16th annual Christmas Tea and Silent Auction organized by the Catholic Women’s Leagues of Our Lady of Grace and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic churches in Westmeath and La Passe respectively.
At this year’s 17th annual tea, again at the Westmeath Hall, Ms. Rose explained the project. Her mother had died and she was a woman who enjoyed a cup of tea, whether it was a sad time or happy time, she said. When visitors came, they would have a cup of tea or if she heard of someone who was ill, she would take tea to their house.
“If mom was going shopping, she would have a cup of tea before she went,” Ms. Rose fondly remembered. “Everything revolved around a cup of tea.”
When her mother died, it was Ms. Rose who now had the many, many teacups and sauces, teapots and tea trolley.
“I wanted to do something special,” she said.
So, last year, she decided to start the Travelling Tea Cup. Over the next year, each of the hostesses would have a cup of tea with this cup. They were to be creative and then write in the book where they were and who they were with and the occasion for the cup of the tea.
“Fourteen hostesses did it for me,” she said.
At this year’s tea, the stories included a cup of tea outside on a deck in the autumn; at a knitting party; with family; moving a mother into a senior’s home; a fourth generation tea party. Throughout the storytelling, it was discovered that “tea is like a hug”; that “there’s always time for tea”; that “you can enjoy a cup of tea even by yourself” and that “having a cup of tea can solve the world’s problems.”
Ms. Rose, who was the emcee for this year’s tea, noted that last year $1,890 was raised and was split between the two churches. Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church put the money towards church renovations while Our Lady of Mount Carmel donated the money to Hospice Renfrew and Whitewater Bromley Community Health Centre.
This year, the money for Our Lady of Grace was going to the kitchen renovation fund while Our Lady of Mount Carmel was donating its portion to Hospice Renfrew.
Ms. Rose noted the beautifully decorated and creative tables, the china, the homemade wreaths and the snowflake decorations.
Amanda and Mich Smithers provided this year’s entertainment, singing a variety of songs and encouraging the women to sing during a Christmas sing-along.
This year’s hostesses were Shannon Dunfield, Brenda Grady, Linda Bromley, Mona Lacroix, Danielle Thomas, Doreen McNair, Pam Bertrand, Sherry White, Eileen de Haan, Lynn Dupuis, Pauline Wright, Leatrice Norlock and Anne and Jackie Bromley.
Making the tea and coffee in the kitchen were Joey Trimm, Bernie Ethier and Tom Dunfield. Helping out in the coat check and bringing out sandwiches and treats were Sherry Ethier, Dustin Ethier, Kayla Hawthorne and Aurora Dament.
