MARY ROSE FLATT

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

MARY ROSE FLATT After a long and fulfilling life, Mary Flatt aged 90, passed away to join her Heavenly Father who she had faithfully served all her life. She leaves to mourn her daughter Linda and her son-in-law James Friesen of Kitchener, Ontario. Joining them in their sorrow are Mary's siblings and their spouses, Pat Falk (Kitchener), Erna and Herb Buller (Winnipeg), Herb and Joan Falk (Fresno); 18 nephews and nieces and their spouses; 44 great-nieces and nephews and nine great-great nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Jack (2007); infant daughter Beth-Anne (1951); daughter Lorraine Carol (2012); parents Rev. W.W. and Helen Falk; brother David Falk; sister-in-law Viola Falk; niece Laura Falk; nephew and godson Joshua Falk; parents-in-law Philip and Sophie Flatt; brother and sisters-in-law, Andy and Olga Shier and Alf and Elsie Neufeld. Mary was born to Russian immigrant parents in Marquette, Manitoba on July 15, 1925, the eldest of four children. In 1944 the family moved to the north end of Winnipeg and she was married to Jack Flatt in 1947. They set up permanent residence in Fraser's Grove and lived there for almost 60 years. Contrary to general custom, Mary attended University and Normal school upon graduation from high school and taught for a year in Waskada, Manitoba, a vocation she thoroughly enjoyed. In later years she also received her BA (Hons) in English Literature from the U of Winnipeg. Her life was spent primarily in the field of education, not in formal settings but education nonetheless. Her students included her husband Jack, her children, her siblings and extended family and also more formal students in many ESL evening classes. She believed that to learn from something, anything, provided the motivation to keep going, an axiom which stood her in very good stead in the later years of her life. Never one to be defeated by a challenge, she devoted years of her life to the formation and growth of a sheltered workshop for mentally handicapped adults, WASO (Work and Social Opportunities). She, with a group of like-minded parents, friends and educators, laid the foundation and built the structure of the organization so that it could become the overwhelming success that it is today. Mary was personally motivated by the special needs of her daughter Linda. Mary was a faithful and long time member of the Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church. She maintained her membership of this congregation throughout her entire life, gaining strength and sustenance from the members of this faith community for almost 80 years. The years after Jack's passing were spent in the company of devoted and impressive network of friends and relatives. Mary was able to remain cheerful in spite of her growing frailty. She accepted the limitations as they came along. A memorial service for Mary Flatt will be held on Saturday, December 12 at 1:00 p.m. at the Elmwood MB Church on Henderson Hwy. A reception in the lower auditorium of the church will follow and interment at the Elmwood Cemetery As an expression of sympathy, donations may be made to WASO and would be greatly appreciated.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 11, 2015