ANNIE EVELYN (MAE) LINNEY (PROUTEN)

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ANNIE EVELYN (MAE) LINNEY (nee PROUTEN) Annie Evelyn "Mae" Linney (nee Prouten) passed away peacefully, with her children at her side, on Tuesday morning, October 20, 2015 at Concordia Hospital, Winnipeg. She was born in the spring of 1926, the daughter of William Henry Prouten and Janet Annie Tovery Lee. The only daughter in the family, she was loved and protected by her older brothers, James Lorne and Wilfred, and she absolutely adored her younger brother, and only surviving sibling, Frank. For a while during the Great Depression, the family lived on a farm in southwest Manitoba, where she attended schools in Woodnorth and Virden. Although left-handed, she was forced to learn, painfully, how to write right-handed, which she did beautifully for the rest of her life. One day, while returning from the grocery store, Mae met her future husband, John Linney. He was a young soldier based in Camp Shilo. He asked her on a date and she accepted...much to her Mom's chagrin. After John earned the love and respect of Mae's parents, they were married in November 1947. Mae worked in Eaton's Catalogue Mail Order section until the birth of their daughter Janet, on Christmas Day 1948. Her son Reid followed in 1951, and Grant in 1954. The family's first home was on Atlantic Avenue in Winnipeg, near the Red River. They survived the 1950 flood and later moved to Polson Avenue, where the children grew up attending Luxton School and St. John's High. Mae and John moved to Rivercrest, just outside Winnipeg in 1969. They lived in peace and serenity on Norham Road until 2010, when John was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and the decision was made to sell the family home. Mae moved to Kildonan House in East Kildonan, a place she absolutely loved and where she maintained a number of very close friendships. She lovingly visited John, currently at Deer Lodge Centre, two to three times a week. Mae was what God had in mind when he created a woman. She was the sweetest, most loving, caring and inspiring person and Mother. She was humble and soft-spoken, and went out of her way...in so many ways...to give to others. She was a valued member of Tabernacle Baptist Church on Bannerman Avenue from the 1940s until her death. She closely and carefully managed the modest family resources and was our moral compass throughout our lives, always seeing the best in people and ensuring that we did the right thing . She liked to say that, To whom much is given, much is expected, and she lived her life as though she had been given everything. Her life was her family and many friends. She was an avid reader, walker, and a crossword puzzle master. She loved her seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren dearly and was looking forward to the birth of yet another great-grandchild in November. She is mourned and survived by her husband John, brother Frank Prouten and wife Gerry, daughter Janet Meckling and husband Dennis, son Reid and wife Wendy, and son Grant and wife Susie; grandchildren Lisa Pataracchia (Ray), Graham Meckling (Michelle) and Dan Meckling; Blake Linney (Jen), Adam Linney (fiance Caitlin Crawford), Matt Linney (Gloria) and Andrea Linney; great-grandsons Liam Pataracchia and Drake Linney; and by numerous nieces, nephews, and family members of the Linney, Prouten and Grant families. Her passing was somewhat unexpected, but peaceful. The family would like to thank the team at Concordia Hospital and the staff at Kildonan House for their loving care and support. They also want to thank all of the family and friends who so graciously shared their time and thoughts with her over the years. We will all miss her dearly but know that she is now sharing her precious soul with those who preceded her. An informal celebration of life will be held at Glen Eden Funeral Home in West St. Paul on Monday, October 26, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. Wearing spring colors is welcomed. In lieu of flowers and donations, Mae would have appreciated you doing whatever you can personally to make the world a better, more loving place. Family and friends may sign a Book of Condolence at www.glenedenmemorial.ca Glen Eden Funeral Home Cemetery 204-338-7111

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 24, 2015