CHARLENE MARY (THACKER) CURRIE

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

CHARLENE MARY (THACKER) CURRIE

February 25, 1940 - April 26, 2025

Charlene was born in Louisville, Kentucky, the daughter of wonderful parents, Charles John and Catherine Kleier Thacker, with sibling, John Charles Thacker. She grew up surrounded also by many loving aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, particularly the Barry family, as well as the Schulers, three generations of family friends for over 50 years.

Family was certainly the center of Charlene’s life. Once married and living in Canada, she extended this same love to her Canadian family, yet never missing annual trips to Kentucky. She became a Canadian citizen as soon as she could and thus had dual citizenship. We loved hosting large Kentucky Derby parties every first Saturday of May for some 30 years.

Perhaps Charlene’s greatest gift was her ability to listen. She not only heard what people said, but what they intended. This was particularly helpful for our daughter, who lives with autism. Our two children, Vincent and Catherine, were her first priority. Our early family life was chock full of fun trips in our little camper, both across Canada and the U.S. Charlene was truly a soulmate with Raymond, sharing over 49 years of marriage. We loved time at our family cottage as well as travel. We loved the same art, music, theatre, and intellectual interests. All our married lives Raymond would read nightly to Charlene.

In addition to her husband, Charlene is survived by her children, Vincent (Sherri Lee) and Katie; grandchildren, Bishop and Phoenix and Sabrina; sisters-in-law, Irene and Nel, cousin by marriage Esmé and nieces and nephews.

Charlene completed her B.A. at Nazareth College in Louisville, while a member of the Sisters of Charity of Louisville, Kentucky, where she remained until 1973. She completed her Masters and Ph.D. at Fordham University, N.Y. She then was hired at the University of Kentucky until her marriage to Raymond in 1975, after which she joined the University of Winnipeg in the Sociology department. At the pinnacle of her career in teaching and research in 1996, she suffered a devastating stroke, and later that year, ovarian cancer. She was never able to recover from the loss of memory from the stroke and had to go on permanent disability. At the time she was in charge of the honours program, was an elected member off the University Senate and Board of Governors. She was also a member of COCAPS, the provincial Committee for Child and Adolescent Psychoanalysis, as well as a Board member of New Directions. Charlene particularly enjoyed her teaching in Women’s Studies.

It is impossible to know and thank all the people who have supported Charlene on her life’s journey, from simple daily encounters with people, to innumerable dedicated health care workers at Shaftesbury Retirement Home, to short and long-term relationships of family, colleagues and friends. Particularly notable were Mary Lee, Dotty Beth, Maureen, Esmé, Andrea, Margie, Diane, Craig and Sam. Nor is it possible to know all the people Charlene has touched in her life, including many students. A quiet, thoughtful woman, Charlene lived her life without complaint, with joy, adventure, incredible openness to learning, respect for everyone, with patience, compassion and gratitude.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Epic Opportunities Foundation, a non-profit agency in support of individuals living with mental disabilities.

A service was held on Thursday May 1 at 11:30 a.m. at St. John Brebeuf Church, 605 Renfrew St, Winnipeg.

Chapel Lawn Funeral Home

204-885-9715

Tribute Link: www.chapellawn.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 03, 2025