MRS. MARY WATKINS

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MRS. MARY WATKINS (Nee NAGAMORI) Mary was born on January 10, 1926 in Kennedy, B.C. in the Municipality of Delta in an area called "Strawberry Hill". She was the fourth child of Masajiro and Tsuya (nee Yoshikawa) Nagamori, having three older brothers, Mas, Sid and Tad and a younger brother Ray and was the eldest daughter with younger sisters, Ruby (Oye), Faye (Hashimoto) and Lily (Hosaki). The family resided in Kennedy, B.C. until they were relocated to Manitoba in April 1942, due to the war and made to work on the sugar beet farms. In 1952, Mary graduated as an L.P.N. and worked in Calgary for a year and then moved back to Manitoba to work and further her studies, graduating as an X-Ray Technologist in 1958. She worked at the Abbott Clinic from 1962 to 1964, the Kenora Holy Cross Hospital from 1964 to 1966 and then joined the Manitoba X-Ray Clinic from 1966 until she retired in 1982. Mary met her husband, the late Dr. George Bertram Watkins while working at the Manitoba X-Ray Clinic. They married on February 19, 1971 and lived a happy life together until his passing on May 28, 2014. Mary passed peacefully away on Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at 1:45 p.m. with her sister Faye by her side. She is survived by brother Tad Nagamori; sisters, Ruby Oye, Faye Hashimoto and Lily (Toru) Hosaki; sisters-in-law, Aster and Bette Nagamori and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Bert Watkins; parents Masajiro and Tsuya Nagamori; brothers, Mas, Sid and Ray Nagamori; brothers-in-law, Richard Oye and Bruce Hashimoto; and sister-in-law Bunny Nagamori. A special thank you to sister Faye who moved in with Mary in June 2014 to help with her care after the passing of her husband Bert and for her continued support during her stay in hospital. Thanks also to Ronald Watkins of Bremen, Germany and Marjorie Taylor of Australia who came to help care for Mary and Bert for several months last year. We are grateful that Mary peacefully passed away without pain. Thank you to Homecare worker Rita and the wonderful staff at the Misericordia Interim Care, 5th Floor for their care and compassion to both Mary and family members. A memorial service will be held at Chapel Lawn Funeral Home, 4000 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg on Friday, February 27, 2015 at 10:00 a.m., with Reverend Michael Hayashi of the Manitoba Buddhist Temple officiating. In lieu of flowers a donation in her memory may be made to the Manitoba Buddhist Temple, 39 Tecumseh Street, or The Parkinson's Society of Manitoba. For those who wish to sign the online Guest Book please visit our website. Chapel Lawn www.chapellawn.ca 204-885-9715

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 21, 2015