Obituaries

VIVIAN MAY STINSON

January 6, 1924 – April 16, 2018

Vivian Stinson died peacefully and comforted by her daughter and youngest son at 12:10 a.m. on Monday, April 16, 2018 at Concordia Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Left to survive Vivian are her four children, Garry, Ron, Debra and John; daughter-in-law Ruth; son-in-law Bob; grandchildren Rhonda, Kelly, Jeff, Sam, Andrea, Genevieve and Hannah and her great grandchildren Seth, Ethan, Desiree, Nikia, Skyler, Taiya, Cruz and Asher. She was predeceased by her loving husband Jack in 2015.

Vivian was born in Swift Current Saskatchewan, the youngest daughter of Percy and Dorothy Hagerman, and she grew up on farms and in small towns across southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba before her family finally settled in Regina, Saskatchewan where she attended Central High School. Viv had particularly fond memories of her time in on the farm near Chaplain, Saskatchewan and of the time during the Great Depression when her mother operated a boarding house in Wawanesa, Manitoba while her father travelled throughout the prairies working at a variety of jobs to help support the family.

Vivian loved music and spent some time singing with a band in Regina while she worked as a shoe salesgirl at Simpson’s in Regina. Her love of music also included the gift of being a good dancer and she met Jack Stinson on a blind date when he had returned to Regina on leave from the Second World War. Vivian’s cousin Bart Howard had arranged the blind date and Jack and Viv quickly bonded over shared their shared passion for dancing, a good joke, and strong personal values associated with fairness, family and fidelity. It wasn’t until later that Viv and Jack realized that they had actually met as young teenagers when Jack was a grocery delivery boy in Regina who had delivered groceries to Viv’s Aunt Matilda and Uncle Fred while Viv was visiting.

Vivian loved to share stories of her and Jack’s courting days and particularly liked to tell the tale of how they would be kicked out of dances for jitterbugging and would then return in different clothes and get kicked out for jitterbugging all over again. She also liked to reminisce about their years at Willard Lake after Jack retired, their travels throughout the southwestern USA, and her adventures raising four children while Jack travelled with his job with the Ford Motor Company.

Vivian was a dedicated and loving mother who supported her children no matter what and encouraged their dreams and aspirations. Her children’s friends would often comment on how they wished Viv was their mother and Viv’s kitchen was always open no matter the time of day or night as was her listening ear. Viv was also a beloved grandmother and great grandmother who inspired her grandchildren to be kind and open hearted even when others weren’t kind and open hearted with you.

Vivian lived independently (with support from the WRHA’s Home Care Program) right up until the end of her life in the senior’s apartments attached to the Parkway Assisted Living complex in Linden Woods where she was a popular friend and neighbour. Viv enjoyed going for lunch with her daughter Debbie every weekend and will be missed by her close friends June and Sheila.

Vivian shared her generous spirit with all she met, and she loved nothing more than being surrounded by family at a Christmas or Thanksgiving gathering.  Viv was always up for an adventure and her loving nature and kind heart are the legacy she has left her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and those she loved.  She will be missed, and the world is a better place for having had Vivian in it.

As per Vivian’s wishes there will be no formal funeral service. Those wishing to honour Viv’s life are asked to make a donation in her name to Cancercare Manitoba.

The family wishes to thank the staff on the third floor at Concordia Hospital who helped make Vivian’s final days peaceful and pain free.

Wojcik’s Funeral Chapels & Crematoriums, 2157 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg 204.897.4665 www.wojciksfuneralchapel.com