DONALDA MARGARET MARY CROSS

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DONALDA MARGARET MARY CROSS (née GILLIS) Donna passed peacefully, at her residence, at the River Park Gardens Personal Care Home. A memorial service and celebration of Donna's life will be held on Monday, August 27, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at Thomson "In the Park" Funeral Home, 1291 McGillivray Blvd. THOMSON "IN THE PARK" 204-925-1120 Condolences may be sent to www.thomsoninthepark.com
Publish Date: Aug 18, 2018

DONALDA MARGARET MARY CROSS (née GILLIS) October 4, 1931 - August 1, 2018 It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Donalda (Donna) Cross, aged 86 years, of Winnipeg, Manitoba on August 1, 2018. Donna passed peacefully at her residence at the River Park Gardens Personal Care Home. Donna was predeceased by her loving husband of 42 years, Arthur, in 1994; her parents, James Joseph Gillis and Hilda Gillis; and siblings, Mabel, Daniel, Gertrude, Sidney, Osborne, and Bernard. She will be lovingly remembered by her daughter Susan Wiegner (Paul) of Oak Bluff, MB, and her son James (Carolyn) of Port Credit, ON; grandchildren, Andrea (Derek), Graham (Dana), Jonathan, Caleigh, and Keaton; and great-grandchildren, Vivienne, Elliott, Owen, Emma, and Layla; nieces, Donna-Marie Botterill (Murray), Jackie Warkentin (John), Sheri Game (Ron), Kathleen Gillis, and Lori Piper (Bob); and nephew Larry Gillis. Donna was born and raised in Winnipeg. She grew up in the Fort Rouge area and attended St. Mary's Catholic School and Kelvin High School. She met her future husband, Arthur, an RAF pilot officer, while he was stationed at the RCAF air base in Gimli. After a brief engagement, they went to England and were married in St. James Church in Leyland, Lancashire and resided there for a short time. In 1953 they returned to Canada to live and raise a family in Fort Garry and later in St. Vital. Donna worked as a telephone operator for Manitoba Telephone System, out of the exchange building on Corydon Avenue. Later, she worked at Birks Jewelers and then at the Great West Life Assurance Company. At each place she formed many lasting friendships and enjoyed periodic reunions with co-workers. For many years, she and Art enjoyed the cottage they built at Pickerel Lake in Ontario, and she loved to entertain friends there, and be surrounded by family. In later years, they became avid travelers, going to a variety of interesting destinations around the world. Donna was a passionate and active volunteer with the Victoria General Hospital Guild. The common thread through all Donna's adventures was that she was a loving, caring, and thoughtful daughter, sister, aunt, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and for this we are eternally grateful. In accordance with Donna's wishes, she will be cremated. A memorial service and celebration of Donna's life is planned for later this summer, with details to follow. Thomson "In the Park" Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. We want to thank the staff at both The Rosewood Retirement Living Home and River Park Gardens Personal Care Home for their care of our mother, and for their kindness and support throughout Donna's journey. We also wish to thank the staff at Thomson "In the Park" Funeral Home for their gentle guidance at a difficult time. In lieu of flowers, donations in Donna's memory may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba, or the Victoria General Hospital Guild, with our thanks. THOMSON "IN THE PARK" 204-925-1120 Condolences may be sent to www.thomsoninthepark.com

Publish Date: Aug 4, 2018

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 04, 2018, Aug 18, 2018