SHEILA JOHNSON (MCCARTHY)

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SHEILA JOHNSON (nee MCCARTHY) October 22, 1931 - November 19, 2017 Peacefully, quietly and at home, with her dear son at her side, my beloved mother, Sheila Johnson passed away. She was 86. Mom was the sixth of eight children, born and raised in Winnipeg into a large Irish Catholic family. Mom is survived by, and is mourned by her one and only child, her son Kyle, for whom she always took great pride in. Also mourning mom's passing are her younger sister Maureen (Peter) Hirst of Coquitlam, BC; sister-in-law Gail (Edward) McCarthy and Anna (Jerry) McCarthy, both of Winnipeg as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Mom was predeceased by her mother Margaret Mary Cronin in 1967 and by her father Daniel Joseph McCarthy in 1971, both of whom she was always close to. She was also predeceased by her five brothers, Larry (Ella), Jerry (Anna), Donal (Mary), Joe, and Edward (Gail): as well as her elder sister Rosaleen (Bill) Brecknell. Mom attended St. Ann's school and St. Mary's Academy. Upon graduation, she held various jobs until joining CN Rail in 1952. From 1959 until 1967, mom lived in California and Washington State, working as a secretary in various legal offices. Returning to Winnipeg in 1967 she continued working as a secretary in various legal offices until she rejoined CN Rail in 1984, where she worked until her retirement in 1991. Mom was widely known for her fierce independence. She was always on the go; always had to be doing things. She could not just sit and do nothing. Mom vivaciously believed in keeping both the mind and body active, and she achieved this simply by always observing and being interested in the surrounding world. Mom enjoyed being physically active, just like her father; her favorite activities being walking and swimming, especially at Grand Marais where the family had a cottage during a good part of her father's lifetime. She even did a few stints at, and succeeded at waterskiing in her younger years! Mom enjoyed cooking and baking, just like her mother always did. Mom always made the most delicious and scrumptious meals that I could ever have had! Yet she always knew when "enough is enough, tomorrow is another day," as her mother used to always say. Mom very much enjoyed the arts, especially classical music. She also enjoyed the movies and entertainment, especially old westerns (John Wayne) and comedy (Abbot and Costello, Laurel and Hardy) just to name a few. One of mom's favorites was Shirley Temple. Maybe because, in her younger years, she was always being told that she looked like Shirley Temple, complete with the curly hair! Mom even got a bang out of watching various cartoons, especially Bugs Bunny and in later years, The Muppet Show! Mom always enjoyed reading, from various novels right down to the newspapers. She was always up on news and current events. Above all, mom loved to travel! She always said to "travel, see the world." From train trips to Chicago and New York in her early years to, one of her biggest trips ever in 1955, when she sailed by ship both ways across the Atlantic to tour Ireland, England and France. She even joined her mother and father on their retirement train trip to California in 1957. While living in the U.S., mom and I made numerous trips to visit family both in Winnipeg and in B.C. Mom relocated back to Winnipeg in 1967 upon hearing that her mother became ill with cancer. Mom's travel bug never stopped. Her many trips included Arizona, Florida, California (Disney was one of her favorites as well as mine!) and especially the numerous, fabulous and memorable trips to Hawaii. One of our longest car trips ever was a trip from Winnipeg to Los Angeles in the summer of 1979, most nights spent camping in various locations along the way, including a 16 night camping stay on a Malibu Beach canyon overlooking the Pacific Ocean! How memorable it all was! All this in addition to touring around where we used to live in Washington State years earlier. Mom made all of our travels interesting and enjoyable. She was always observing and getting educated on everything from the local culture, to the history, geography and the scenery of every place she travelled. An excellent provider mom always was. As a mother she also provided me with the importance of honesty, respect, kindness, hard work, and with the fact that many people in this world are not so fortunate. She always said to do a good turn to someone every day, and without waiting to be asked or told to do so, especially to the less fortunate, and to not just walk away and ignore it. Mom had absolute no tolerance for greed, selfishness, unfairness or dishonesty. Mom also always said to speak up against wrong when wrong is seen to be happening and right it, for doing so will help make the world a better place. Mom also provided me with the importance of rising up and facing any challenge that comes your way, for doing so is what makes one grow and later face further challenges that come your way. Mom you were simply the best person that I could ever have said the word "mom" to. Your love, warmth and hospitality and all that you have provided were second to none. And to think you did all of this single-handedly and independently! Did I also mention how you introduced me to and spent so much quality time with Grandma and Grandad and how we enjoyed each other's company so much! Mom, in my later years, I was not only happy, but blessed to give back to you what you always provided to me. Like some more of the same travel experiences that you provided to me, or some more of the same delicious and scrumptious meals that you provided to me, especially while you were in the hospital recovering from two hip surgeries. It was a lot better than that "infamous" hospital food, wasn't it?! Or all the same loving care provided by me in the comfort of your own home while the ravaging effect of that dastardly Alzheimer's disease was eating away at you over the last five years of your life. Mom you lived a rich and fulfilling 86 year life, and I am absolutely grateful for loving and caring for you over my 55 year life. I am very sad to see your life end, but it ended peacefully, quietly, independently and in the comfort of your own home, and with me, you one and only son at your side. It could not have happened in a better way. Rest in peace and tranquility mom. Hope to see you again soon. A funeral service will be held at St. John XX111 Roman Catholic Church, 3390 Portage Avenue on Thursday, January 4, 2018 at 1:30 p.m. with Father Robert Polz officiating. Interment to follow at Assumption Cemetery. A Reception will be followed. In lieu of flowers, donation s may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Alzheimer Society, Canadian Cancer Society; or any charity of one's choice. For those who wish to sign the online Guest Book please visit www.chapellawn.ca Chapel Lawn Funeral Home 204-885-9715

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 30, 2017