Obituaries

BETTY (NEE THURLING) MCCORMICK

JANUARY 7, 1929

Our dear Mom, lovingly called Nana by her grandchildren, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 27, 2026 while in her last residence, Oakview Place Care Home, at the age of 97 years. We thank the staff there for the wonderful care they provided Mom and the supportive help given to us her children.

Before moving to Oakview, Mom chose to move to the Metropolitan Kiwanis where she resided for 6 years with many of her friends. She loved living there and the staff went out of their way ensure she was living her best life.

Mom lived all her life in Winnipeg, where she met her husband George who has predeceased her. Mom and Dad met in the late 1940’s, married in 1950, and had a wonderful 62 years together. Those 62 years were full of love and life. Together they built a home, a family, a community.

Mom learned the love of gardening at the side of her father a WW1 veteran, where they spent many precious hours together with Mom learning all about the flora from her father.  For the remainder of her life, gardens were important to her, and she spent many hours in her own garden.

Mom’s enjoyment of dancing started in her youth when she learned to tap dance.  One of her favourite memories of dancing was when she travelled with her troupe to Portage la Prairie during WW2, and tap-danced for the soldiers. Later, many weekends would find Mom and Dad dancing the night away with friends.

Her children always enjoyed the stories of her adventurous youth at Winnipeg Beach. These included weekends when she and her friends would hitchhike to the beach or hop aboard the “Moonlight Special”, riding it to the end of the line.

Mom and Dad loved to travel, particularly by cruise ship (especially the 12 and 14 pound cruises), and overseas to the UK and Europe. They enjoyed many trips with friends throughout Canada and the USA, some of them gambling junkets with their friends from ANAVETS.

Mom always lived life to the fullest, loved her family and friends.  She was fun loving and ready to go anywhere, and experience things that had Dad worried more than a few times.

In 1976, Mom and Dad installed a backyard pool which became the summer focal point for family and friends to gather together. You might drop by and have an impromptu visit with a cousin you didn’t know would be there, keeping family ties strong.

Mom was kind and gracious to everyone and always had a smile for all. She was the ultimate hostess, and everyone was welcome to sit and have a cup a tea and a shortbread cookie. In the summer, if the garage door was open, everyone was welcome to come on through for a visit and a swim, neighbours, family including all the grandchildren, great-grandchildren and all their friends.

The grand and great grandchildren were very important to Mom. A seemingly never ending supply of special treats and snacks like Smarties, and happy face shaped potato patties, were always in stock to bring a smile to a small one.  A call to Nana on a beautiful summer day was all it took for the teenaged grandkids, and then great grandkids, to hang out with Mom and Dad for a backyard pool party. Many, many bags of chips and hot dogs were consumed in those summer afternoons with Nana organizing all of the teenage chaos with all the grace and kindness of an ultimate hostess.

Mom was a member of The Red Hat Society but later became a member of the “Prairie Chicks” and enjoyed many fun occasions with her friends. Once a year she hosted all the “Chicks” in her backyard for a pool party. Being the ultimate hostess, she ensured that the pool was nice and warm for all her “Chicks”.

Mom worked most of her life. As a teenager her first job while still a student, was typing in the school office because she was an exceptionally proficient typist. After school, she worked in a Market Garden, and as an usherette at the movie theatre, but her favourite job was at Tully’s Hardware Store. After a break to raise her family, she worked at Metro Drugs Pharmacy for 27 years, first beginning part time, and later, full time in the company’s offices.

Mom is survived by her four children, Kim (Cal), Bruce (Melodie), Kit (Kris) and Joy (Gord), and her sister Beatrice.

Mom was a proud grandmother to 10 grandchildren, Lon (Lee-Ann), Sky (Lisa), Susan (Nick), Brian (Jaimie), Meghan (Richard), Stephen (Catherine), Jessica, Evan (Kyle), Garrett (Jo-Ann), Justin, and 12 great grandchildren.

In accordance with Mom’s wishes, cremation has taken place and instead of flowers, please donate to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

                  A Celebration of Life will be held during a private family gathering at a future date.

Lift up our thoughts, lift up our songs

And let Thy grace be given

That while we linger here below,

Our hearts may be in Heaven.

By C.F. Alexander