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Marguerite Eleanor Barrett
April 7, 2017
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<div itemprop="description">M. Eleanor Barrett <br>1925-2017 <br> <br>On Friday, April 7, 2017, having just been kissed by her daughter, the world lost an amazing mother, grandmother, relative and friend. M. (Marguerite) Eleanor Barrett (née Morgan) passed in peace to her final rest at 91 years of age. <br> <br>Mom was born August 3, 1925 in St. James where she resided her entire life. She was proud to say that she had lived over 68 years in her house, only two doors from where she grew up, and she was not moving out until the Lord called her as she would never go to a nursing home. She got her wish. <br> <br>She is lovingly remembered by her only daughter Corinne Ellen Barrett DeWiele and her husband Michael. She will be terribly missed by her only grandson, Brayden Samuel Kutcy, her pride and joy. When Corinne went back to work, Nana raised Brayden and we were never sure whether he would learn to talk to get a word in edgewise or he would be quiet. Once he started to talk, he didn’t stop, like his Nana. <br> <br>Mom was predeceased by her husband William (Bill) Kenneth Barrett on Jan 10, 2005 and her parents Samuel and Mildred (née Depoe) Morgan on January 4, 1978 and November 18, 1974 respectively. The Morgans were pioneers of Saint James from 1906. They were very community minded, as was mom. She was the last surviving sibling of that Morgan clan, having been predeceased by her seven brothers and sisters on Morgan side: Mildred (Bastable), Sam, Joe, Frank, Molly (Craig), Alvin, and Ernie. She was also predeceased by her two beloved sisters-in-law Dorothy Pratt and Bernice McCormack of Edmonton and niece Joanne Guild of Brandon. <br> <br>She will be fondly remembered by her two surviving sisters-in-law, Edie Morgan and Donna (Ernie) Fiala, as well as Michael’s mother Marion DeWiele. Also left to cherish her memory are many nieces and nephews from the Morgan side: John (Carol) of Argyle, Bill (Sue) of Caledonia, ON, Sharon (Merv) Carpendale of Coleville, SK, Dianne of Whitehorse, YT, Derrick Craig of Nanaimo, BC, Debbie (Bob) McClintick of Victoria, BC, Grant (Carol) of Airdrie, AB, Gayle (Boyd) Halliwell of Sandy Hook, Gerilyn (William) Mekish of Selkirk and Greg (Bonnie) of Thunder Bay, ON; and from the Barrett side: Connie (Dave) Drybrough, Marilyn McCormack, John McCormack, Francie McCormack (Charles Dixon), all of AB, Delayne Hogan, and Darilyn (Myles) Burdeniuk. Further mourning her loss are the children of these nieces and nephews, too numerous to mention. Finally, she will be missed by the DeWiele family members. <br> <br>Mom lived and full and happy life giving much love and care to family, relations and friends. Mom met Dad and they courted for several years. They were married on September 18, 1948. One of their most favorite activities was to eat huge pots of corn-on-the-cob when corn was in season. They also loved to live in their trailer at the lake in the summer, first at Brereton Lake and later, Chesley’s Resort in Petersfield, when the drive to the Whiteshell became too long. They celebrated 50 years of marriage on September 18, 1998 with a special dinner in the St. James United Church downstairs hall. Unfortunately, due to dad’s untimely passing, they could only make 56 in total. <br> <br>In her younger days, Mom was a hurdler and speed skater. Those talents skipped a generation but Brayden was both on the provincial speed skating team and a top hurdler in the province in high school. Evidently, her genes were present and afforded him much success in these sports. <br> <br>Eleanor’s greatest love was doing for others as she had such a kind-hearted social nature. Sewing was a passion and she made wedding dresses, grad dresses and bridesmaids dresses too numerous to count. Any new babies to family and friends received a handmade quilt. Cooking for family, baking, cleaning, laundry, ironing, rearranging cupboards, whatever was needed to be done, she was happy to do; it was never much of a trouble. She loved to watch the curling on TV and Mom and Aunt Edie would dissect every match, always cheering for the Canadian teams! <br> <br>After babysitting and ironing shirts for 10 cents each as a teenager, her first job was at Parkview Solo Foods, owned by family, and then she began a stellar career with the Royal Bank of Canada, lasting for over 30 years. She worked her way up from a beginner position to manager (one of the first women to do so in her time) of cash operations or the ‘cash cage’ as she lovingly called it, sending money to all branches of the RBC and some credit unions. More than twenty years after retirement, she would meet regularly with ‘her staff’ and entertain them at her house for lunch. Colleen, Gayle, Mable, Madeleine, Sandy and Vicky’s visits were a highlight for Mom as she could prepare fancy sandwiches and dainties. Her final job, going to ‘work’ as she called it, was looking after Corinne and Michael’s dogs. She would prepare her calendar each week, carefully noting when she was needed by the cairns. She would faithfully visit them to let them out on any days when Corinne and Michael could not be home before dinner. She took such pride in this ‘work’ - the dogs miss her already. <br> <br>Mom was a faithful lifelong active member of St. James United Church and proud treasurer for the St. James UCW (United Church Women). She was a member and leader of the girl guides at the church, a Sunday School Teacher, a Board Member, a greeter and so helpful in setting up numerous Sunday celebrations, bazaars, wedding and funeral services. She was a very important part of the St. James United Church community up until the church was sold. <br> <br>Until her passing, she was the oldest surviving member of the Business and Professional Women’s Club (St. James Chapter until it closed and then Selkirk Chapter) having received her 50 year pin from the National President three years ago. She loved to tell stories of how she was a band member of the Winnipeg Blue Bomberettes, a group led by her sister-in-law Donna Fiala and her husband Ernie, and how she was one of the seamstresses who made hundreds of costumes over the years. <br> <br>As winner of the Mayor’s Senior of the Year Award in the year of its inception 2009 in the Caregiving and Humanitarianism category, she certainly was worthy of the prize. She never missed a birthday or anniversary of relatives and friends alike. She was generous to a fault and she would take food donations, on a regular basis, to Saint Matthews-Maryland United Church to help those in need. She loved celebrating all the holidays together, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, with grand family dinners, always making the turkey in her kitchen. <br> <br>Heartfelt appreciation is extended to the caring staff at the St. Boniface Hospital in Emergency, 6E and 6A South, in particular Dr. Wuerz, Nurse Kristi and Chaplain Leslie. <br> <br>Thank you to the many dear relatives and friends who visited her in hospital, called, sent emails, texts, cards, and flowers after her stroke. While she did not respond verbally, you knew by the way she looked at you that she understood that you were there to support her. <br> <br>We love you mom and Nana and will always miss you. <br> <br>In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, Parkinson Society Manitoba, the Winnipeg Humane Society or a charity of one’s choice. A celebration of Eleanor’s life will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, April 21, 2017 at Chapel Lawn Funeral Home, 4000 Portage Avenue. Interment to follow. <br></div>