ELLEN (GRACE) DECOCK (née SIGURDSON)

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ELLEN (GRACE) DECOCK
(née SIGURDSON)

Peacefully on May 8, 2020, Ellen "Grace" DeCock passed at the age of 96.
Grace was preceded in death by her parents, August and Sarah Sigurdson, husband Fernand "Fern", daughter Darla, son Daniel, sister Pauline, and brother Tom.
She is survived by her daughter Jerrilynn DeCock and son-in-law William Steinke. Grace had six grandchildren: Carolyn, Chris, Tamara, Cory, Kim and Kristi; 13 great-grandchildren: Felicia, Jacob, Kiera, Ava, Alexander, Aidan, George, Bella, Julia, Derek, Adam, Avery and Finley; two great-great-grandchildren: Eloi and Kitana. Grace will be missed by many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Grace was born in Winnipeg and spent her early years in Wynard, SK. She later moved to Winnipeg where the family settled for good. She began her career at Eaton's in the mail order department, moving to the main store to work on the fashion floor and lastly had a role in the photography studio as a photographer's assistant.
She met her husband Fern at the Winnipeg Roller Rink at age 14 and married four years later. They lived for a short while in Lethbridge, AB, and Victoria, BC before Fern was deployed overseas during the Second World War. They started their family upon Fern's return from the war and moved to their first home in St. Vital in 1947. In 1954 they moved to Fort Garry where they raised their three children.
Grace had a life-long love of curling and became a very accomplished curler in Manitoba. Along with Lil Van Walleghem, they started the Pembina Business Girls Club which paved the way for working women to have their own ice time in the evening alongside men. She competed out of the Pembina Curling Club during her curling career and is a lifetime member of both the club and the Pembina Business Girls Club. You always saw the DeCock name represented in curling bonspiels and playdowns around the province.
In 1971, Grace and Fern started Ferns Jewellery Ltd. where they operated a very successful business with a loyal following of customers. While Fern was a very skilled craftsman, Grace developed a strong business acumen that together helped them retire as successful entrepreneurs.
After Fern's passing, Grace spent nearly 35 years as a widow travelling the world for both pleasure and to support the men's and women's Canadian curling representatives at the World Championships. Some of the places she travelled were Sydney, Australia; Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany; Glasgow, Scotland; and Lausanne, Switzerland to name a few.
In her later years, she enjoyed playing bridge and socializing with her friends and family.
Special thanks to all those at the Pembina Place Mennonite Personal Care Home, who made Grace's final few years peaceful.
In place of flowers, donations in memory of Grace may be made to a charity of your choice.
Following Grace's wishes, cremation has taken place. A graveside service will be held at a later date.

This life for me is truly past,
I have loved you all to the very last.
Weep not for me but courage take,
And love one another for my sake.

Mum

THOMSON "IN THE PARK"
204-925-1120
Condolences may be sent to www.thomsoninthepark.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 16, 2020