LAVERNE RAMONA REICH

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LAVERNE RAMONA REICH July 16, 1928 - July 6, 2014 Following a severe stroke, LaVerne passed away peacefully at the age of 85 years. She was predeceased by husband Fred in 1989, brother Carl (Bud) Gibson in 1992 and sister Doreen Thompson in 2013. She leaves to mourn daughter Susan Grymonpre, sons Bob, Jim (Lorrie), Bill (Annette) and Dave; grandchildren David, Andrea, Kris, Wren, Taylor, Adrienna, Andrew and Jeffrey; great-grandchildren Elena and Luke, brother-in-law Al Thompson, and nephews Randy Thompson, Kurt and Guy Gibson. Mom grew up in a poor North End neighbourhood of Winnipeg and married Fred in 1947. She was a stay at home mom who worked hard raising five children. Mom did not value possessions - her family was all that really mattered. But although she wasn't wealthy, she was always generous to family in other ways. The kids were never in need of any necessity. Looking after her kids and large vegetable and flower gardens took much of her time. She volunteered with the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Duke of Kent Legion Branch 119. She was also active with Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and still regularly lunched with many friends. Mom belonged to two 5-pin bowling leagues until her senior years. She also loved to knit. Every day after supper she would spend a few hours knitting gloves, scarves and toques for the Christmas Cheer Board for over 25 years. Over the course of the year, there were countless bags delivered to keep the needy warm. At times during summer, Mom enjoyed cottage life with her sister Doreen at Laclu and Lake of the Woods. In 1975 LaVerne and Fred visited Hong Kong and Japan, a Veteran's reunion where Dad was held captive as a POW during the Second World War. Mom especially disliked some of the unusual foods and especially the hydro-foil boat ride in choppy seas. Later in life, when grandchildren finally arrived, she was able to go to Calgary (sometimes by Greyhound Bus, because she did not like to fly) to meet and visit grandchildren. Several times Mom would go on road trips to Indianapolis, Calgary and Vancouver as co-pilot with Annette driving. She had several trips to Minneapolis with grandchildren, and in 2013, she met her great-granddaughter there. Mom was always willing and able to babysit her grandchildren and to attend their various functions. Until recent years, Sunday dinners were always a regular event at the family home on Community Row with many good memories. Supper is at five - we're having roast beef, and very well done, of course. Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter dinners were always at Mom's place. Mom enjoyed good health for the majority of her life. She often said "I've never had a headache in my life". She survived uterine cancer, skin cancer, two bouts of breast cancer in the early 1990s and colon cancer surgery in 2013. She lived very independently and sold the family home on Community Row in Charleswood in 2007, moving to Lindenwood Terrace assisted living where she made many new friends. A ceremony with family and close friends will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 10, 2014 at Neil Bardal Funeral Centre, 3030 Notre Dame Ave. (across from Brookside Cemetery). The family would like to thank the staff at Victoria General Hospital (5 South) for their compassion and care during her final weeks. In lieu of flowers, friends can make a donation in LaVerne's name to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, 6 Donald Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3L 0K6, the Christmas Cheer Board, or a charity of their choice. NEIL BARDAL FUNERAL CENTRE 204-949-2200 neilbardalinc.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 08, 2014