BERTHA GERTRUDE BEAUCHEMIN

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BERTHA GERTRUDE BEAUCHEMIN (nee PARKER) Peacefully on Monday, July 11, 2016 Bertha Beauchemin passed away at Pembina Place Personal Care Home in Winnipeg, Manitoba at the age of 95. Born on March 18, 1921 in Nine Mile River, Nova Scotia, Bertha was the eldest of 12 children born to the late Orin and Jessie (Rath) Parker. Left to cherish Bertha's memory are her daughters Louise of Winnipeg, MB, Patricia (Blaine) Thomas of Oakville, MB, Carolyn Beauchemin (Dan Stelman) of Inwood, MB and Teresa (Dan) Hamilton of Whitefish, ON. She also leaves to mourn her grandchildren Danielle, Sara, Christina, Riel, Jesse, Danny and Emma; great-grandchildren Tallon, Brynn, Isaiah, Laura, Julia and Conner; brothers, Curtis (Christine), Hollis; and sister Phyllis of Nova Scotia; as well as many nieces and nephews. Bertha was predeceased in death by her husband Marcel George; sons Allen and Leonard; parents Orin and Jessie Parker; brothers Wendell, Prescott, Everett, Laurie and Graham; and sisters Jean, Beulah and Helen. As a young woman during the Second World War, Bertha worked several jobs in Halifax, including a teahouse and a chocolate factory. In 1945, while visiting a friend in the hospital in Halifax, she met RCNVR Able Seaman, Marcel George who was recovering from a war injury. George asked Bertha to join him for coffee once he was released from the hospital and she accepted. In the summer of 1946 Bertha boarded a three-day train ride to Winnipeg to marry George and begin her new life on the prairies. They were married November 30, 1946 at St. Charles Parish in Charleswood where they raised six children before moving to Winnipeg in 1959. After working for several employers in her lifetime, Bertha retired in 1981 from her job at the YMCA as chambermaid after 12 years. She loved to bowl and joined a bowling league at the young age of 68 and continued to bowl until the age of 86. With a zest for life, she took great pleasure in gardening, discussing current affairs, a good joke, family gatherings, listening to live music and travelling. Anyone fortunate enough to have known Bertha, will always remember her sense of humour, her brilliant smile, her fierce independence, wise words of advice and genuine love of life. Bertha was a devoted mother and loyal caregiver to her husband while he was on dialysis for 14 years. She was always thankful for her good health and was more than willing to help others in need. A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, July 28, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Memories in Wojcik's Funeral Chapel, 1020 Main Street at Manitoba Avenue, Winnipeg, MB. The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at Pembina Place Personal Care Home for their kind care, compassion and support they provided Bertha during the last few years. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice. Wojcik's Funeral Chapels & Crematorium, Winnipeg, 1020 Main Street, 204.586.8668 www.wojciksfuneralchapel.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 16, 2016