ANNICE STEPHENS

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ANNICE STEPHENS On December 30, 2014, after a long, courageous battle with old age, Annice left her son Hugh and daughter Joan in search of the ultimate bridge game. Annice was born on November 29, 1913 to Edith and William Sutherland. Although her mother forgot to enroll her in school, Annice eventually attended Luxton School, where she skipped a grade; St. John's High where she graduated with Honours in Latin, French, German and English; and St. John's College, where she achieved her Bachelor of Arts in 1934. Following graduation, she put aside her dream of pursuing a law degree to support her mother and invalid father. She worked for a time at Confidential Exchange, then an umbrella group for Winnipeg Social Services and, in 1937, joined the Plant Products Division of the Canadian Department of Agriculture (the Seed Branch), one of the highlights of her working career. In 1942, she transferred to the Unemployment Insurance Commission, where she could only work until her marriage because laws then prevented married women from working for the federal government. The man she married was her best friend's uncle, Hugh Stephens; they first met when she was seven and he was 21. Hugh had not made a good first impression. As his sister was deaf, Hugh spoke rather loudly and this did not sit well with Annice, an only child unaccustomed to any sort of ruckus. Hugh left soon after for Vancouver, where he lived until his return in 1931. With his deaf sister having moved away, he and Annice become good friends. Over the years, Hugh spent many months surveying northern Manitoba but always returned to Annice. On Christmas Day 1941, Hugh gave Annice a custom-made sapphire and diamond ring and, on a Wednesday evening in June 1943, they wed. In 1945, Annice and Hugh welcomed Hugh Jr. and, nine years later, Joan. This same year, Hugh finally convinced Annice that a cabin in the wilderness would be a good thing. Annice agreed on two conditions: that she would never have to go outside and that the kitchen would overlook the lake. Since 1954, the cottage at West Hawk Lake, with its trademark living room window-doors and lake view, has been at the center of the family's life. While their children were growing up, Annice volunteered at Bronx Park Community Centre, served on the East Kildonan Scholarship Foundation and was a substitute teacher at Miles Mac Collegiate. After Hugh retired in 1964, Annice was appointed Assistant Manager of the Queen's Printer Bookstore, where she worked until her retirement in 1976. She and Hugh also owned Elgin Parking Lot, and she enjoyed interacting with their many parkers, most of whom worked for the Winnipeg Police Service. Hugh and Annice's respect and love for each other was legendary. After Hugh's death in 1988, Annice decided that she could either be a "little old lady, wearing widow's weeds", or get on with her life. So, one day she announced she was selling the home on Leighton Avenue and purchasing a life-lease in a new building downtown. After moving to Fred Douglas Place, she never looked back. During this third act of her life, she subscribed for many years to both stages at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, as well as the WSO and the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra. Annice always said bridge kept her brain sharp and agile, and she took up duplicate bridge in her later years. She appreciated playing with those who remember that "it's just a game" and she loved her Monday night game with Joan, Kel Brooker and Michael Dunbar. She also enjoyed helping novice players and introducing all to the merit of "sitting in the woods and taking 'em to the cleaners". Over the years she traveled to England with Joan and then Hugh; spent several winters in Victoria and toured Europe with childhood chum Thelma Collins; and cruised to Hawaii with her children and friends. At age 84, with good friends Geri and Peter Spencer and Nan and Reg Johnson, she fulfilled a life-long dream of visiting Greece. It was here she announced one morning that she wouldn't be going on that day's tour because, "I looked in the mirror and decided I'd already seen enough ruins for the day". At the age of 85 she broke both wrists, an event made tolerable by her fortitude, her sense of humour, and the acquisition of "The Barge". Annice spent many hours cruising the lake with a rye and water, declaring, "the sun is always over the yardarm, somewhere". Not content to rest on her laurels, Annice swam two or three times a day and, in later years, used her walker to traverse kilometers of trails daily with son Hugh. Christmases at the lake were particularly memorable. Hugh's attentive care and the support of wonderful homecare workers, including Tess, Sandy and Kim, allowed her to continue living in her own home until she broke her hip. Over the past four years she received compassionate and loving care at Misericordia Place; Hugh and Joan saw her every day and they know there is a special place in heaven reserved for all her extraordinary caregivers, particularly nurses Hannah, Theresa, Kerri, Vicki and Christina. Annice lived a full life, made all the richer for the friends she made along the way, including Georgia and Danny Klass, the Spencer / Johnson clan, the Erhardts, Trevor Down, and the late Kel Brooker. On her 90th birthday, Kel said, "Annice is an optimist, never a pessimist; classy but never stuffy; well-read and intelligent but never snobby; articulate but never monopolizes the conversation; principled but never arrogant or patronizing; possessed of a razor sharp wit and a keen, self-deprecating sense of humour that is never mean-spirited or crude; proud of her family but never boastful; tolerant of others and never judgmental. Life is always viewed as a gift to be opened and enjoyed". And so, in that spirit, take a moment to toast our dear Annice and know she's wishing you a life as long, healthy and joyful as hers. Cremation has taken place and, as Annice wished, no funeral service is planned. Flowers are gratefully declined. If you wish, please join us in making a donation in Annice's honour to the Royal MTC Endowment Fund, 174 Market Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3B 0P8; the Misericordia Foundation, 99 Cornish Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3C 1A2, or to the charity of your choice. NEIL BARDAL FUNERAL CENTRE 204-949-2200 neilbardalinc.com
Publish Date: Jan 10, 2015

ANNICE STEPHENS On Tuesday, December 30, 2014, after a long and courageous battle with old age, Annice Stephens passed away peacefully with her beloved children Hugh and Joan by her side. A longer obituary will follow on Saturday, January 10. NEIL BARDAL FUNERAL CENTRE 204-949-2200 neilbardalinc.com
Publish Date: Jan 3, 2015

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 10, 2015