OLIVE COTTINGHAM (SKINNER)

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OLIVE COTTINGHAM (nee SKINNER) Peacefully, with her family at her side, Olive Cottingham (nee Skinner) passed away on Wednesday, October 3, 2018, at the Arborg and District Hospital, at the age of 98 years. She will be lovingly remembered by her family: Gail (Allen) and Christie (George), grandchildren, Robert (Catherine), Lauri (Jay), Jena (Brett), Alyssa and Donna (Bert), great-grandchildren, Adam (Serena), Alyssa Mae, and many other grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her loving husband Bob (2013), her parents, Richard (1943) and Janet (1973) Skinner, her first husband Cecile Campbell (1971), and siblings, Fred (Margaret), John (Marguerite), Milton (Margery), Ray (Anne), Ben (Kathleen), Allen and Jean (Ben Greer). Olive was born on June 29, 1920 in Teulon where she attended school and went on to become a registered nurse at Selkirk General Hospital. She married Cecile Campbell and they moved to Fort Langley, BC, then to Atikokan, Ontario. During this time Olive carried on with her nursing career, three years at Fort Langley and five years in Atikokan. In 1960 Olive was appointed Superintendent at the Hunter Memorial Hospital and in 1965 she became the Administrator. Olive married Bob in 1973 and retired from her duties of Administrator of the hospital. They resided on the farm in Teulon until they moved into their new home which they built in 1996 in the Town of Teulon. In 2012 they moved to the Assisted Living Complex in Arborg where they spent their remaining years. Olive and Bob enjoyed life together as they travelled and spent their winters in Ocala, Florida for 22 years where many family members and friends visited, and all were welcomed. If there was one word to describe Mom, Gramma, Aunt, friend, it would be a caregiver. Her profession as a nurse was only part of it, her dedication to care for others was her calling and we always remember her being the one at their side to care for them at their time of need. She was also a talented seamstress and crafter of needlework for which she won numerous first place awards. She was also an avid gardener from which no produce was wasted as she spent hours canning and freezing - resulting in fresh vegetables throughout the winter. No one ever left the house without either a fresh oatmeal cookie or homemade buns! The family wishes to thank the staff and home care workers at the Assisted Living for their attentive care, ensuring she was safe and not alone. A special thanks to the Arborg Hospital staff for their good care and compassion allowing Mom, Gramma to spend her last days in comfort and dignity. Memorial service will be held at the MacKenzie Funeral Chapel in Teulon on Tuesday, October 9 at 11:00 a.m. A luncheon will be served immediately following the service. A private family interment will take place at Dunara Cemetery after the luncheon. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Olive's name to a charity of one's choice. Family and friends may sign a book of condolence at mackenziefh.com MacKenzie Funeral Home Teulon 1-204-467-2525 info@mackenziefh.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 06, 2018