“In the 1960’s you could go to Canada from the U.S.A. for a “sightseeing visit” with little or no hassle. You would be questioned about why you were entering, eyed for any suspicious behavior, then waved through. I was there in the back seat of my Dad’s Chevy.”
Actually you could do that up until September 10, 2001.
At least for air travel, my experiences differ. I went on a skiing trip to Banff in 1990 without a passport, but the difficulties I had on entry led me to having my mother FAX me a copy of my CoLB for reentry to the US.
With all the traveling Stanley Ann did, we can presume she had a passport. There ought to be some sort of paper trail there.