Ida Mae (Callender) Foster

Ida Mae (Callender) Foster of Newton Centre, MA. peacefully departed this earth on Thursday February 13, 2020. She was 87 years old. Ida was the third child born to Hilary Ellis Callender Sr. of (Barbados W.I) and Mabel (Sowell) Callender of Durham , NC . Ida entered this world in  Durham, NC on September 6 ,1932.  

After several years Ida along with her older brother Hilary Ellis Callender Jr. and older sister Constance L.  Callender with their  parents settled in Boston, MA.  The Callender family like most West Indian  families in their neighborhood were hard working people during the late 30's and throughout WWll. They wanted to  provide a better life for their children and their community. Mom my used to say that" Back then everyone looked after  everyone else & everyone kids and pitched in to help when needed” .   That sense of help, community (and the assistance of a family friend Victor Bynoe Sr, )made it possible for the  family to purchase  a home  at 14 Mayfair St. in  Roxbury section of Boston in 1946.

Ida was raised and attended Sunday school at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Boston,MA. Ebenezer is where Ida learned to love the Lord our God  and with faith believing that all good comes from trusting in the  Lord.

Ida Mae Callender (as she was fondly known) along with her sibling attended the Boston Public Schools and then went on to graduate from Girls High School in Boston, MA on June 4th 1950. Ida then attended secretarial school and business classes receiving   high accolades upon completion of the program.  Ida did have other dreams at time of being a pioneer and applying her talents as a member of the F.B.I.,  but the disapproval of her father ended that dream . While our grandfather wanted the best for his children, he came from and carried the “old school” doctrine of what was best and suitable for his daughters.

In 1948  through a mutual friend Lloyd Holford, Ida was introduced to someone who later would go on the change the rest of her life.  She met Freddy Foster of Elm Hill Park in the Grove Hall section of Boston,MA. . They started a courtship and as the story goes young Freddy won over Ida's dad  with a proper introduction  and asking permission to court his daughter.

In the early 50’s Ida’s sister  Constance served proudly in  the Arm Forces protecting our  homeland in Germany and Italy  and her boyfriend  Freddy served our country proudly in Korea. Ida waited two years for her “soldier boy” to return from the war. Upon  his return to the states,  Ida  accepted Corporal Foster’s proposal of marriage.

Ida as her parents had done  in  December of 1925 ,married Mr. Fredrick E. Foster on September 15, 1956 at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Boston, MA.

God went on to bless them with three wonderful children Fredrick A. James E . and Judith A Foster, two wonderful grandchildren Ashton Nicole and James FF Andrews. and a host of brother and sister-laws, nieces nephews  ,cousins and beautiful  family friends.

Ida’s devotion to her husband and children was paramount in her life. Her family was everything to her. She always strived to do what was best for her family even if it meant sacrificing her own needs. Our Mom could make the best out of any situation. While Big Fred  was  the head of the household , Ida is the one who made the “trains run on time” , controlled  Foster household  and seemed to do  it all effortlessly!

Once  her youngest child entering the first grade, Ida decided to pursue a career again and re -entered the work force .She went on to have a successful  career working in the financial service industry for 28 years until her retirement in 1997. Ida had contemplated retiring back in 1995 with her husband, but thought waiting would be better because as she put it “The two of us back in the house together all day could get messy”. Well their retirement turned out to be a blessing because it finally gave the both of

them the time to relax, travel , spend  quality time with family and friends and watch their grandchildren grow into amazing adults they are today

Ida leaves to mourn her beloved husband of 63 years Fredrick E. Foster of Newton Centre, MA , Her Son Fredrick A. Foster of Boston, MA, her daughter Judith A. Foster-Andrews of Newton Centre, Ma and her late son James E. Foster . She also leaves to mourn her sister Constance L. Callender of Newton, Ma , granddaughter Ashton Nicole Andrews , her grandson James Fredrick Foster Andrews and a host   of brother and sister-laws , nieces nephews ,cousins and beautiful  family friends

Ida will have a” Celebration of Life “ luncheon in her honor on Saturday February 29th at the Venezia Restaurant 20 Ericsson St. Boston ,Ma. 02122 from 12-3 p.m. .

Contributions in Ida’s honor can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Massachusetts.  309 Waverley Oaks Road Waltham,MA. 02452 or by calling (800) 272-3900.

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