ESTHER LOREEN BLAIS

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ESTHER LOREEN BLAIS (OLAFSON) It is with great sadness that the family of Esther Blais announces her passing after a brief illness at the age of 88 years less two months, on Monday, March 7, 2016. Esther was a proud Canadian and Western Icelander, having been born to Icelandic parents in Riverton on April 12, 1928. She was a product of her times and moved to Winnipeg at a young age to seek employment. After Business College she found work at Winnipeg Cold Storage. It was while living with some of the other Riverton girls she met a handsome young French Canadian, Leo Blais. She always said that she knew Leo liked her when at a New Year's party he gave her the first of many memorable kisses. She always maintained that Dad was the best kisser. She has been missing those kisses for the past 17 years. We are sure that he greeted her with a big kiss and asked "where have you been old girl?" Mom and Dad moved into their house on Worthington in 1949 just in time to be evacuated during the 1950 flood. It was here they raised their four children with Dad expanding the house when Mom was carrying their youngest. Mom was our Icelandic matriarch. A strong woman who would have achieved many great things if times were different. She worked hard to support her family taking jobs in retail and working for many years at Eaton's Warehouse, where she made good use of the employee discount. Mom loved the family cottage on Howard Avenue in South Beach, Gimli where, over the course of 44 years, she made many special friendships. She really wanted one more summer in Gimli. Predeceased by her beloved husband Leo, infant daughter Loreen, brothers Steve and Harry, sisters Fiola Olafson and Joyce Thordarson, and brothers-in-law Brody Thordarson and George Gerrard. Esther is survived by her children: Barry (Linda) and son David Curtis Blais, Eric-Lorne (Mary) and children Katelyn and Andrew, Joanna (Cas) and children Alex (Alison) and son Edgar, and Morgan, Paulette (Ron) and children Gervais and Simone; sisters Helga Gerrard, Connie (Charlie) Ostertag and Viola (Jim) Mark; brother-in-law Noel Blais and his wife Kay, and many nephews and nieces who she loved dearly. She will also miss her good friends Lill, Patricia and Margaret. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 11, 2016 at Thomson Funeral Home, 669 Broadway. In lieu of flowers, Esther would appreciate a donation to Smile Train or Christian Blind Mission. THOMSON FUNERAL HOME 669 BROADWAY, WINNIPEG, MB R3C 0X4 204-783-7211 Condolences may be sent to www.thomsonfuneralchapel.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 09, 2016