DOROTHY JEAN MERCER

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DOROTHY JEAN MERCER With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our dear mother, Dorothy Jean Mercer. She passed peacefully on Tuesday May 2, 2017 at the age of 89. She was born on a farm in Lena, Manitoba February 24, 1928. She was one of six children. Jean met and married her husband, Howard William Mercer of Balmoral, Manitoba and they moved to East Fort Garry. Jean and Bill raised seven children and their home was always open to family and friends. The family thanks Laurie and Gary for being with her so she could stay living in the family home for as long as possible. We all love you for making that possible for her. Left to cherish her memory and carry on her legacy are her five children - Linda (Jake), Bryan (Brenda), Dale (Peggy), Laurie, and Gary as well as her nine grandchildren - Andrew (Jen), Jalynn (Kelly), Carla (Matt), Wade (Sara), Alison (Adrian), Colin, Emma, Jonathan, and Matthew, and her seven great grandchildren - Cayden, Hailee, Austin, Beau, Cash, Avery and Ethan. Her brothers Billy Bryan of Killarney and Keith Bryan of Pelican Lake will also miss Jean. Jean is predeceased by her loving husband Bill, daughters Patti Mercer and Karen Mercer Hazlitt, brother Bob, sisters Enid and Fran, and her parents William and Marion Bryan. Jean was a loving and devoted wife and mother who worked hard raising seven children. She started a career in 1974 with Woolco (now Walmart). She provided excellent customer service in the jewelry department and kept it in tiptop shape. She retired after 26 years of service in 2000. Jean was a card! She loved being surrounded by family and enjoyed a good laugh, a funny cartoon, whipping her competitors in a game of scrabble, winning at Bingo or better yet, winning at the penny slots at a casino. She won often! She had many hobbies like knitting while watching hockey, gardening and baking delicious chocolate chip cookies, butter tarts, gum drop cookies and fudge at Christmas. She nursed the growth of a clematis vine by her back door for years and that plant produced hundreds of bright purple flowers annually. She had a very green thumb and the quack grass that dared to infiltrate her healthy grass didn't stand a chance. She spent many hours every summer digging and pulling out quack grass. She was so good at finding the bad stuff that Gary bought her a nice stool to sit on while crouching for hours. Her lawn was like a beautiful carpet. She also enjoyed many road trips with Bill and family. If she found a treasure or joke she thought one of her family would like, she thoughtfully bagged it, tied a piece of wool around it with a perfect bow and clearly labeled it for you. The family extends a very special thank you to the caring staff at Riverview Health Centre and Victoria General Hospital. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to Riverview Health Centre or Cancer Care Manitoba. A private family burial has taken place. A celebration of Jean's life, with a come and go reception, will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2017 at the family home in Winnipeg from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. To contact family, please leave a message with Thomson "In the Park" Funeral Home at 1-204-925-1120. THOMSON "IN THE PARK" 204-925-1120 Condolences may be sent to www.thomsoninthepark.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 06, 2017