SHEILA DEVINE (DOBIE)

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SHEILA DEVINE
April 7, 1932 - June 23, 2022

IN LOVING MEMORY

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Sheila Devine (nee Dobie), on June 23, 2022, at the age of 90 years.
Sheila was born in Dumfries, Scotland on April 7, 1932, where she lived for 18 years with her parents and older brother. She attended school in Dumfries and earned a post-secondary education degree in radiography. While working as a technician at the Stobhill Hospital in Glasgow, she met her late husband John Devine and the two married later that year in 1953. Together, they started to build a family in Dumfries, before emigrating to Canada in 1956 with their three young children. They settled in Winnipeg, where their family grew by three more children, two Siamese cats and a Samoyed dog. In the 60 years that followed on Mercury Bay, they raised their kids - as well as 10 more dogs - and built lifelong friendships with neighbours.
Sheila had a special gift for bringing people together and would brighten up any gathering with her infectious laughter. She loved to entertain and was well known in the community for her generosity, and delicious Scottish shortbread. She was also a talented knitter and kept the whole family warm with a steady output of sweaters, hats, mitts, and slippers.
She worked as a radiography technician at the Manitoba X-Ray Clinic until 1981, when she decided to go back to university and study French, Spanish, German, and Latin. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in French. She employed her multilinguistic proficiencies by volunteering at the Winnipeg Airport as a Goldwing Ambassador. Throughout her many years of service, she loved connecting with people who were visiting Winnipeg from around the world. She often travelled to visit family in Scotland, Norway, and South Africa, as well as to vacation on the beach.
Sheila and John were both active members of the Siberian Club of Canada, and in the winter months, they sledded their dog team in the fields behind their house. Sheila entered her dogs into obedience training shows and won many ribbons over the years, as well as training some of them to become St. John Ambulance Therapy Dogs. She volunteered with these dogs at a retirement residence, where she touched the hearts of so many people with her boundless kindness.
Her zeal for life, perseverance and determination are an inspiration for us all to pursue our dreams and give abundantly to others. We will miss her deeply but will forever be thankful for the time we shared. She has left us with so many beautiful memories to hold closely in our hearts as we journey on in our lives.
Our mum is survived by children, Fran, Ken (Barb), Beth (Roger), and Mairi; grandchildren, Kyle, Kamron, Jonathan, Falyn, Jenna, Alanna, Lauren, Heather, Kristin, and Anders; great-grandchildren, Joshua and Isabella; sister Leslie; brothers-in-law, Pat and Jim; sister-in-law Anna; and many nieces and nephews in Norway, Scotland, England, Greece, France, and South Africa. She was predeceased by her husband John; children, Elaine and Iain; grandchild Kraig; mother Isobel; father James; and brother Ian.
We owe a debt of gratitude to Mum's caregivers at Home Instead, and to the staff at Calvary Place Personal Care Home for all their loving care and attention during her stay.
In honour of Sheila's legacy, donations can be made to the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba or the Winnipeg Humane Society.

THOMSON "IN THE PARK"
204-925-1120
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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 02, 2022