JEAN WILLENA KITCHING

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JEAN WILLENA KITCHING (nee ELLIOT) August 10, 1928 - November 18, 2015 Quietly in the presence of her loved ones, Jean Kitching passed away after a long and fulfilling life. Jean was predeceased by her husband James (Jim) Craig Kitching in 1993, siblings-in-law Mac and Edith McCullough, and Cliff Preston. Jean is survived by her children Craig (Deb) Kitching, Cathy (Trevor) Gamble, Mariann (Doug) Cochrane, David (Regina) Kitching; grandchildren MacKenzie and Eli; Chris (Dana), David (Heather), Adam, Samantha, and Dustin; Rebecca, Kelly (David), and Megan (Landon); Ben, William, and Leah; and three great-grandchildren; siblings Mary (Leonard) Rance, Harry (Bonnie) Elliot, and Margaret (George) Bond; siblings-in-law Helen Preston and Lloyd (Gwen) Kitching, and numerous nieces and nephews. Jean was born in Stonewall, MB, to William and Lila Elliot. At the age of 17 Jean taught on permit and then went on to Normal School, after which she spent years teaching in various schools. While teaching in Carman, she met and married Jim Kitching. They were married in England in 1957 while Jim was on the Nuffield Scholarship. A farming family, they involved their four children in farm life and expanded into potato production in the 70s. They kept abreast of developments in the industry, and Jean took on the bookkeeping and farm management. Meanwhile Jean was always the teacher; for her children everything was a teachable moment. Active in her community, especially where children were involved, she advocated for kindergarten, the Library, and the Carman Band Boosters; in later years she volunteered with the Dufferin Museum and Seniors Resource Council. She and Jim hosted agricultural trainees from all over the world through I.A.E.A. and attended many annual Nuffield events. Some of her great adventures were her travels to England, Africa, Australia, China, Central America and Alaska. As a couple, Jim and Jean instilled in their children's lives the love of travel, books, art, and learning, which has been passed on to their grandchildren. Funeral service will be held Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at the Carman Mennonite Church, Carman MB. Donations in Jean's memory can be made to the Carman Area Foundation (Preston-Kitching Fund) to support the Boyne Lodge and Carman Memorial Hospital. Doyle's Funeral Chapel in care of arrangements. www.doylesfuneralchapel.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 21, 2015