PHYLLIS ANGELA COOKE THOMSON

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PHYLLIS ANGELA COOKE THOMSON

Peacefully, Phyllis Thomson, beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, teacher, mentor and loving soul, passed away on April 22, 2026, at the age of 91 years.

She will be lovingly remembered by her many friends, students, and family, including sons Andrew, Christopher (Sheryl), daughter Celia (Don), daughter-in-love Sandy Cohen (Rob), and former daughter-in-law Mary-Anne, grandchildren Alastair (Darcie), Fraser (Chelsea), Matthew (Leah), Jacqueline (Jordon) and six great-grandchildren Claire, Gavin, Benjamin, Emma-Leigh, Margaret-Anne and Charlotte, beloved sister Audrey Belyea, sister-in-law Ann Cooke, nieces Margaret Harrison, Olivia Arnason, Allison and Jennifer Cooke, and nephew Allan Belyea. She was predeceased by her brother David Cooke and her former husbands Stewart Thomson and Russell Doern.

Phyllis was born in Winnipeg on May 14, 1934, daughter of the late Richard W. Cooke and Constance Field Cooke. She grew up on Douglas Park Road and attended Linwood School and St. James Collegiate, graduating with honours in 1951. She attended the University of Manitoba, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics in 1955. During the summers of her undergraduate years she worked for a variety of employers. Her last position, as assistant home editor at The Country Guide, continued after her graduation. In 1957 she left to pursue her music career and to begin a family. A decade later she returned to the University of Manitoba, receiving her Certificate of Education in 1970, Bachelor of Education in 1974 and Master of Education in 1976.

Born into a family deeply engaged in music both sacred and secular, her path was predestined. She began singing at age eight in the Junior Congregation Girl’s Choir at St. Luke’s Church where her father was choirmaster. Her parents had chosen the violin as her instrument, and she dutifully completed her Grade 6 Violin in 1947. However, singing was her passion and she began voice lessons with her beloved teacher Doris Mills Lewis in 1948. Phyllis won numerous awards at the Manitoba Music Festival including its top vocal award, the Rose Bowl, in 1956. She quickly became a noted recitalist with her husband Stewart, whom she married in 1955, performing on CBC Radio and Television, and in many concert series. She was a soloist with various orchestras and ensembles, including the CBC Winnipeg Orchestra, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir, performing in numerous oratorios and passions from 1958 to 1978. She premiered works by Canadian composers Norma Beecroft, Robert Turner, Bruce Carlson and Bernard Naylor.

Phyllis was a soloist and section lead in many Winnipeg churches and often appeared at St. George’s Crescentwood’s annual service of Nine Lessons and Carols. Countless weddings and funerals were blessed with Phyllis’ pure soprano voice.

She was a member of The Choristers and the CBC national radio program Sunday Chorale, its successor the CBC Winnipeg Singers and later The Winnipeg Singers. She sang in the television pilot of CBC Hymn Sing in 1965 and the first series of programs.

Between 1963 and 1969 Phyllis was a member of the University of Manitoba Consort of Ancient Instruments performing as a singer and instrumentalist. With the Consort she toured throughout Canada, the United States, Great Britain and Europe, with memorable performances at the Edinburgh Festival, the Aldburgh Festival (by personal invitation of Benjamin Britten), Expo 67 and the opening of Canada’s National Arts Centre in 1969.

While her voice was most suited to Early Music, oratorio and art song, she was also involved in musical variety shows with the late James Duncan and John Hirsch performing at Rainbow Stage and the Hollow Mug Dinner Theatre. She sang the role of Heidi Schiller in the RMTC SondheimFest production of “Follies” in 2013, her last musical theatre performance.

As adjudicator with the Federation of Canadian Music Festivals from 1963 to 1983, Phyllis was one of the most popular and sought after judges across Canada.

A born teacher, Phyllis taught foods and nutrition at Kelvin High School from 1970 to 1977 where she introduced and piloted the Elementary School Practicum. At its peak she had 75 students in specialized placements in elementary schools, working closely with principals and classroom teachers, and at the Children’s Hospital. She also initiated the Human Development program, and in 1975 introduced a nursery school involving high school students in the community alongside an Early Childhood Education program. Her Gourmet Foods course offered during the school lunch-hour resulted in numbers of boys opting for Home Economics. Her International Foods program enabled the growing diversity of Kelvin students the opportunity to proudly present their family’s heritage through food, while providing classmates a greater understanding and appreciation of the cultures in their community.

She was seconded to the University of Manitoba Department of Human Ecology and the Faculty of Education in 1978 as an Assistant Professor until 1981. Her return to the Winnipeg School Division included four years at Elmwood High School and a further thirteen years at Kelvin, continuing the programs she had earlier established. She “retired” in 1998.

While already a voice teacher for decades, teaching young singers became the focus of the next phase of Phyllis’ life. Her home became an ever-increasing hub of activity with hundreds of voice students over the next two decades. Her teaching year began early in August, when she would prepare folders of songs individually selected from her extensive library and best suited for the voice and personality of each student. With the start of school, she taught most every day, adding Sunday to the schedule after Christmas, as the focus shifted to the Winnipeg Music Festival. Most students were entered in at least two classes, always supported by finest of collaborative pianists - Stewart, later Audrey and latterly Linda Fearn. After the Festival came preparation for the RCM exams in June. Phyllis likely kept the RCM in business as she often had upwards of 40 students registered, and several days were reserved just for them. The exams were closely followed by the final Student Recital, another tour de force, where every student was expected to perform, always rewarded by her words of thanks and praise, and followed by one of her signature receptions for families and friends. Her meticulously-prepared students won countless Festival trophies and RCM gold medals.

Phyllis loved her home on Harvard Avenue and lived there for 55 years. She delighted in the solitude of her screened porch and bountiful vegetable and flower gardens, a love passed down from her father and shared with her family. She was always excited when the seed catalogues came out in December. She was a fabulous cook, and she loved to entertain. Anything was important enough to celebrate, and celebrate she did: holidays, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, choir windups, senior singing students, even her students graduating from Kelvin.

But it was her famous Christmas Party which most recall with joy and awe: people crammed together shoulder to shoulder, trying to make their way to and from the lavish spread in the dining room. Wine flowed, and on the table a white floral arrangement shimmered in candlelight surrounded by an assortment of cheese and crackers on silver trays followed by large roasts of beef and ham ready to be carved into delicious sandwiches. Then came the enormous trays of Christmas baking and slices, including her famous butter tarts.

Phyllis loved her family unconditionally. She was a giver; generous to a fault, not only with beautiful gifts, but with endless encouragement and support. She was someone who would always “get real” with you, taking the time to talk, making you feel heard and loved, and instinctively sensing what would be of the greatest help or comfort.

The proverbial Energizer Bunny, Phyllis was a constant inspiration, a rock of poise, beauty and class. Family, friends and neighbours regularly received her cookies to mark the holidays of the year. Her cards and affirming notes are treasured remembrances. She brightened every room she entered.

The gradual onset of dementia precipitated Phyllis’ move to the Wellington in 2021, where she enjoyed Audrey’s companionship, love and care. In June 2025, she moved to the Rosewood and finally to Tuxedo Villa. Throughout it all Phyllis remained gracious, loving and kind to all she met. She spoke of her home and garden to her last days and continued to share that Stewart was the love of her life. Phyllis often said that she looked forward to what she would find on the other side. There is no doubt that she found love.

A service of celebration and thanksgiving for the rich life of Phyllis will take place on Thursday, May 14 at St. George’s Anglican Church, Crescentwood, the Rev. Sherpard Gwende officiating. A program of organ, choral and vocal music will be offered beginning at 6 p.m. followed by the funeral liturgy at 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. George’s Memorial Fund (168 Wilton St., Wpg, MB R3M 3C3) or to the Winnipeg Music Festival–Phyllis Thomson Scholarship (88 St. Anne’s Rd Unit 2, Wpg, MB R2M 2Y7). The service will be livestreamed at www.stgeorges.mb.ca/live.

May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. Alleluia!

NEIL BARDAL

FUNERAL CENTRE

204-949-2200

neilbardalinc.com

PHYLLIS ANGELA COOKE THOMSON

Peacefully, on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, Phyllis Angela Cooke Thomson passed away at the age of 91.

A service of Celebration and Thanksgiving will be held on Thursday, May 14 at 7:00 p.m. at St. George’s Anglican Church, Crescentwood, 168 Wilton Street. Father Sherpard Gwende officiating. Longer obituary to follow on May 9.

NEIL BARDAL

FUNERAL CENTRE

204-949-2200

neilbardalinc.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 25, 2026, May 09, 2026