Ad. Keaney Retires From Bank of Commerce (Prepared and Contributed by members of the Staff of the Canadian Bank of Commerce, Bradford) Miss Adelaide Keaney retied from The Bradford Branch of The Canadian Bank of Commerce on Monday, December 15th, after 42 years of service. Miss Keaney started her banking career in 1917 in The Standard Bank in Bradford, then managed by Mr. Tom Bell, who still is a resident of Bradford. When The Standard Bank was later amalgamated with The Canadian Bank of Commerce Miss Keaney stayed on and she has served this community for the full length of her banking career. During all these years Adelaide, as she is called by most of her friends in this district, has given this town the most loyal and faithful service. She will be remember by the Bank's customers and friends for many years to come. Miss Keaney has seen this community grow from a village to a town and to its present importance as an attractive shopping centre as well as to a centre of the vegetable industry. She is very proud of Bradford. It is no wonder then that Miss Keaney will spend the years of her retirement right here where she accomplished her life's work. To honour Miss Keaney the staff of The Canadian Bank of Commerce arranged a Gala Banquet at the Riverview Inn last week. The banquet was a truly memorable occasion, attended by many of her friends, by representatives of Bradford's leading industries and commercial establishments, as well as by officials from the Bank's Head Office. Joe Janthur, who managed the banquet, states in an interview that due to limited facilities at the Riverview Inn the attendance had to be restricted to 145 people, and that unfortunately only the closest of Miss Keaney's friends could be invited. However, we are advised that the response to the invitations was most enthusiastic and generous. The banquet had been in preparation for over six months. Miss Keaney states that she had no knowledge whatsoever that she was going to be honoured by the people of Bradford in such a loving manner. When she entered the Riverview Inn and was received by such a large number of her friends she could not withhold her tears of happiness. Miss Keaney wishes to gratefully acknowledge the many honours bestowed upon her and wishes to thank everyone for their attendance. The banquet was divided into three parts: reception, dinner and dance. During the dinner a number of speakers, among them Mr. Ellis Tapp, manager of The Canadian Bank of Commerce, and The Honourable W. Earl Rowe, M.P., recalled bygone days. No doubt the highlight during the dinner was reached when Fatehr McGinn, who helped Miss Keaney through many difficult days, presented her with a personal blessing of Pope John XXIII, on behalf of the Bank staff. A blessing from The Holy Father, we are advised, is most difficult to obtain, and is an unusual Grace. The Bank staff in co-operation with Father McGinn has worked many months to secure this blessing for Miss Keaney. We are proud to be able to reproduce the text of th document, which is signed and sealed with The Holy Father's Seal in The Vatican in Rome: Most Holy Father Miss Adelaide Keaney Humbly prostrate at the feet of Your Holiness, begs the Apostolic Blessing and a Pienary Indulgence to be gained at the hour of death on condition that, being truly sorry for her sins but unable to confess them and to receive the Holy Viaticum she shall at least invoke with her lips or heart the Holy Name of Jesus. Entered in the books of the Vatican on the 14th day of September, 1959. Sealed Signed Miss Keaney in a short speech expressed her appreciation very warmly. The well prepared finner was followed by a dance, Joe Janthur had engaged the popular orchestra of George Christophek from Kitchener for the occasion, and while the orchestra provided an excellent dinner concert they showed that they could also perform first-class dance music. Mr. Christophek, who studied music and reached fame in Vienna, Austria, played his violin with perfection. Upon request, later in the evening the artist played some Hungarian gipsy music which is only rarely heard. During the dance Mr. Charles Evans, Q.C., presented Miss Keaney with a lazy-boy easy chair on behalf of all her friends. Miss Keaney, we understand, is very happy with about this gift, and has assured us that the new chair will be her steady companion during her days of leisure. Messrs. Tom Bell, Bob Veale and L. T. Foster, all retired managers of the Bank in Bradford then took the opportunity to say a few words to Miss Keaney and to wish her the very best for the future. We have heard many favourable comments about the banquet, about the food served and about the entertainment provided and it would appear that those present enjoyed themselves well, Miss Keaney was, no doubt, the happiest person in the group, and she has confidentially told us that she would like to re-enlist in the Bank of Commerce again, just so that she can have another retirement party later. The owners and staff of this paper certainly join the many speakers at hte banquet and all of Miss Keaney's friends in wishing this pleasing and friendly lady a long life, good health and all the happy and joyous things she so fully deserves.
