Obituaries

MARGARETTA (RETTA) SUSANNA VINCETT (nee HABINGTON) It is with profound sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of our Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother and Friend, Margaretta (Retta) Susanna Vincett on Wednesday, May 23, 2012. Born May 21, 1921, Retta passed away in Lac du Bonnet, just two days following her 91st birthday. Left to cherish Retta’s memory are her beloved daughter Janice Madden; son-in-law Brooks Meisner; granddaughters Erin Madden (Brandon) and Jamie Chalmers (Ken); and great-grandson Madden Chalmers. She was predeceased by her husband Bert Vincett; husband Alfred Rounsfell; and brother, William Habington. Retta’s life was characterized by great loss but also great love. Born in Belfast, Ireland, she studied nursing, quickly learning the ropes as she practiced during the Second World War. Following the war, Retta relocated to England, where she married Alfred, and they welcomed beloved daughter, Janice. Tragically, just a few short years later, Alfred succumbed to illness. Fiercely strong and independent, Retta decided that moving to Canada would offer her daughter the best life possible and together they boarded a ship. Upon arriving, she followed family members to Winnipeg, where she and Janice first settled. A nursing job with Winnipeg Hydro saw them relocate once again, this time to Pointe du Bois. It was there, on a chance encounter, that Janice met Bert Vincett, brought him home and announced to Retta that this was the man she wanted to be her new dad. Just a short time later, she and Bert married, eventually making their home in Lac du Bonnet. Together they built their dream house on the Winnipeg River where they enjoyed fishing from the dock, gardening and cooking family dinners in the summer kitchen. A friend to all animals, Retta and her family gave homes to many stray dogs over the years with those lucky pups being treated like close family members. Retta was known and loved by many who were lucky enough to have encountered her true generous spirit. While she had many hobbies such as reading, knitting, and later in her 80’s, attending computer classes, her love for those activities paled in comparison to her passion for her family. As a Nana, she loved nothing more than spending time with her granddaughters, cooking up plates of homemade chips, Irish soda bread, ginger snap cookies and her famous apple pies, or spending her evenings shuttling the girls to and from skating lessons. She passed on to them and her daughter, strong values such as the importance of family and instilled in them all an intense Irish stubbornness that will no doubt carry on for many generations. In honouring Retta’s wishes, no formal Funeral Service will be held. A private family Service will be held in the near future to place Retta with her beloved Bert in the Lac du Bonnet Cemetery. The family would like to offer their thanks to the staff at the Lac du Bonnet Personal Care Home for their endless compassion and the amazing care they offered to Retta, making sure she was comfortable during her final weeks. Flowers are gratefully declined however the family encourages those wanting to honour Retta’s memory to make a donation to the Lac du Bonnet Personal Care Home, Box 1030, Lac du Bonnet, MB R0E 1A0 or to the Winnipeg Humane Society, 45 Hurst Way, Winnipeg, MB R3T 0R3, a cause nearest to Retta’s heart. Forever loved and missed.   As published in the Winnipeg Free Press on May 26, 2012