MARTHA ALBERTHA ANTOINETTE SVENDSEN

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MARTHA ALBERTHA ANTOINETTE SVENDSEN (nee GEURTS) Martha Svendsen, 80, passed away peacefully on the afternoon of Friday, October 23, 2015 at Vista Park Lodge in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Martha was born near Plumas, Manitoba on July 29, 1935 and was the first member of the Geurts family who was born in Canada. She grew up on a farm as the youngest of nine children. Despite having eight siblings, she was the youngest by eight years and as a result she found company in her dog "Tippy" and other animals on the farm. She eventually moved with her elderly parents to the RM of St. Andrews and lived with them for some time helping them with day-to-day tasks. As a young woman, she was quite close to her nieces and nephews and took pride in being the aunt who always spoiled them with small gifts and trips to the movies. She worked in Winnipeg at the Eaton's Centre mail order department and took night classes to upgrade her education so she could pursue a career as a licensed practical nurse. She was a natural born caregiver and the nursing profession was a perfect fit for her. Along the way, she met her husband-to-be when he was a patient at the Health Sciences Centre and the two of them fell in love. They married shortly thereafter and she relocated to Thompson, MB to join her husband where she raised her family and began her new career as a stay-at-home mother and homemaker. She remained in Thompson for 37 years and retired to Winnipeg with her husband in 2002 where she could be closer to family and friends alike. Martha was a devoted servant to God, her Church and her family and it showed in the way that she lived her life. She followed the example set by Jesus and put the needs of others before her own at all times. She showed nothing but love for everyone around her and was loved by all in return. Martha was predeceased by her husband Mogens (Morgan); parents Henri and Albertha; sisters Adelaide and Antoinette, and brothers Albert, Marcel, Martin, and Henry. She leaves behind her sons Erik (Aurora) and Leif (Keri); grandchildren Henry, Sofia, Jaya, Kelsey, Bo and Layne; sisters Marceline Lapointe and Mary Nault; sisters-in-law Mary Geurts, Kirsten Wattne (Ole), Gunver Dahl-Koefoed (Keld), Connie Balle-Svendsen, and brother-in-law Leif Balle-Svendsen (Kis), along with numerous nieces and nephews. A special thank you should be extended to the staff of Vista Park Lodge in Winnipeg for the care provided to Martha throughout her stay at the home. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, October 29 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Margaret's Catholic Church located at 105 Little Britain Road in the RM of St. Andrews. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba, 10-120 Donald Street, Winnipeg, MB R3C 4G2. NEIL BARDAL FUNERAL CENTRE 204-949-2200 neilbardalinc.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 27, 2015