Obituary for Edith Morgan (Hemming)
Edith Morgan (nee Hemming)
June 21, 1930 – January 30, 2021
In the early morning hours in the company of family, Mom passed peacefully in her sleep at the Selkirk Regional Health Centre. Mom’s incredible capacity to love and accept people was beyond compare. Her love embraced young and old, those who were near and far, and she leaves a legacy of many small things that are so big to the people who knew her.
Born in Teulon, to new Canadians from Sweden & Denmark, Edie grew up in the Interlake and was the fourth of six children. She leaves behind a wide extended family that includes 8 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, special nieces, nephews and cousins numbered in the dozens along with many others who lovingly called her “Mom” or “Grandma” or Auntie. Her love was boundless.
Edie spoke Swedish at home until the start of school where she began to love her new language of English. She excelled at school and created lifelong hobbies based on English words. Edie loved to sing to her four children and later to her grandchildren; those songs were like candy to their ears. They gobbled it up. Word puzzles and the Winnipeg Free Press Jumble contest were not only fun but lucrative; she won the Jumble contest numerous times. She often made her entry in the name of someone special in her life; sacrificing her win for that loved person. As soon as the kids were old enough to drive, legally or not, delivery of The Jumble before deadline was a mandatory errand. We all won because of her love for words.
After moving with her Mom Hulda and family to Winnipeg as a teen, she met Ernie at the roller rink. A dashing young man he was, who had the nerve to ask for a kiss right there on the rink! She allowed a small peck, and their lifelong love for each other was born. Married just short of their 50-year anniversary, husband Ernie passed in 2000. They raised their four children Greg, Grant, Gayle and Gerilyn first in St. James and later in Tyndall Park. Together with Ernie, of Irish heritage, they enjoyed living on Dingle Street for several years. In the late 1970’s they moved to Canada’s first housing cooperative, the Willow Park Co-op. They enjoyed the Co-op especially for its community of friends. Helpful neighbours were deeply appreciated by Mom after Dad’s passing. Mom loved the children that kept the Co-op lively. Hallowe’en often brought over 300 children to the door. Edie made sure that all received a huge smile and delicious treats. After a major surgery Mom sadly left the Co-op after more than 40 years as a member resident.
Entering contests was a passion and Edie had uncanny luck. She won the family’s first colour TV and a beautiful diamond ring, two very memorable prizes. Box tops, UPCs, and coupons were always tucked away for potential contest entries! She was a big fan of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and is remembered for wildly cheering on her football hero Kenny Ploen back in the day. Mom attended her first live Bomber’s game when she was in her 80s and was very disappointed that the 2020 season was cancelled. Mom also had a collector’s heart—if it came in a set, she set her mind to getting it. Salt & pepper shakers, spoons, stamps, Ty beanie bears, coins, angels and bells were just a few of her collections. Even better to collect, were things that gave back to the community such as Variety Club heart pins or the Jet’s “Return to Winnipeg” pins, and many more fundraisers. She loved commercial mascots and branded items, many times sending in proofs of purchase galore to get the Little Bean Sprout or making special purchases to qualify for a plush Natural Gas Genie. Through thoughtful gifting all of these things have found new homes.
After her kids left home to begin their lives in the big world, Edie took up bowling in commercial/recreational leagues. She loved the excitement and social fun of bowling at Billy Mosienko and Uptown Lanes for Bison Transport teams. She won many trophies and accolades from team members. She bowled vigorously into her 70s.
Baking was one of Mom’s hobbies that people far and wide appreciated. She loved attending all kinds of social events– birthdays, anniversaries, showers, and just plain gatherings—she always went with a tray of baking in hand. “Edie Pies” were so popular that she considered going into a commercial enterprise in her 70s. Knitting and embroidery came back to her as pastimes and many gifts of her works are still treasured by lucky recipients. There are dozens of kitchens out there with her cotton creations protecting dishes from chips, saving pots from scratches, or simply washing the dishes.
At a time when it was considered brazen to do so, Edie went back to work. With all four children in school, and despite winter weather conditions Edie rode Winnipeg Transit for an hour each way to work at the Nairn Avenue Clark’s Department Store across the city. Her earnings were always spent on “something for the kids”. She took great pride in overseeing the shoe department for Clark’s, then Gambles, and finally Zeller’s. It was a good fit for everyone.
Family was the main area of focus for Mom throughout her life. In a recent Dignity Therapy story Mom said that her greatest accomplishment in life was when she became a mother! She revelled in her babies as they came and continued to take pride and give love as they grew. Big dinners, celebrations, seasonal events were her favourite times to fill the table with loads of food for everyone that she could squeeze in. She cared for her widowed step-father after his health declined, juggling demands of four teens, her retail job, a husband, Trooper the dog, and various cats. All this without the luxury of running water. She was a marvel!
Edie was always thinking of others. In the week before her passing, she was preoccupied with finding a way to breach the walls of her sister’s restricted facility residence and get a haircut to her sister Grace! She ensured that summer holidays included a week or two at the beach and after the Parade a day of fun at the Red River Exhibition! She made sure that winter fun included a very frigid parade and a very warm breakfast with Santa at the Bay. The Shrine Circus and other special events gave her family something magical. Her ability to embrace everyone ensured that as kids married, their spouses and all of the spouse’s family would become part of her world. She took joy in seeing friends, cousins, neighbours and their families go off into the world to marry, have children, and share their stories with her. The family so appreciates that all of these people made room for Mom in their lives. Sorting her pictures was a trial of memory for us because her world included so many babies, so many pictures of children, and so many duplicates!
For 19 years as a widow Edie was very independent, managing her resources, health, housing and other matters with minimal support from her family. Her last year included 10 months of living in East Selkirk with her daughter Gerilyn and son-in-law Bill. They gave her a wonderful home, filled with loving care and attention along with an ever-changing view of seasons, birds, and life from their huge living room picture window. Saint the cat entertained Mom with the antics of a growing kitten. Cosmo, the ever-faithful lab, checked on Mom every day that she was there.
Survived by sons Gregory (Bonnie) Morgan and Grant (Carol) Morgan, daughters Gayle (Boyd) Halliwell and Gerilyn (Bill) Mekish, and special extended family Nellie (Dave) Guy. Her grandchildren: Stephen (Kelly) Morgan, Jeremy (Stacey) Morgan, Amber (Daryl) Kereluk, Jan DuMontier, Lynn (Jemahl) Zanidean, Sam (Janell) Morgan, Lee-Ann Mekish, Daryl Mekish (Jillian Malowney). Her great grandchildren: Kyleigh & Avery Morgan; Ava & Lily Kereluk; Emilie & Jasper DuMontier; Kaitlin, Sarah & Leah Zanidean; Samson & Wolfgang Morgan; Malcolm, Marcus and Kianna Brown; Faith Harawa; Colton Syrenne.
She also leaves her sister and best friend Grace Steski, her brother Frank Hemming, special niece Brenda Thomas, and many more nieces, nephews, cousins, their families, and a wide circle of friends.
Predeceased by husband Marshall (Ernie) Morgan, mother & stepfather Hulda & John Carlson, father- and mother-in-law Samuel & Mildred Morgan, brothers & sisters-in-law Clarence (Clara), Stanley (Ruth), and Marge Hemming, sister and brother-in-law Beatrice (John) Solarz, and brothers/sisters-in-law Frank Steski, Sam (Dot) Morgan, Mildred (Jack) Bastable, Joe (Crystal) Morgan, Frank (Olive) Morgan, Molly (John) Craig, and Eleanor (Bill) Barrett.
The family sends their deep appreciation to the Home Care staff and nurses in the Selkirk region, particularly Cathy, Keri, Monika, Judy, Lara and Dana who gave professional yet gentle care to our Mom. The Palliative Care Team led by Dr. Clark was a wonderful resource, especially Melanie.
Above all, Dr. Nadine Lecuyer deserves the highest honour for her expert and selfless care as Mom’s family physician. Dr. Lecuyer also extended her generous caring and energy to Geri & Bill as they provided direct care for Mom in the last 10 months of her life. Dr. Lecuyer is the “gold” in the gold standard.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Interlake-Eastern Health Foundation (Palliative Care) in Mom’s memory are preferred. PO Box 5000, Selkirk R1A2M2.
A private family service will be held. It can be viewed live stream on the Neil Bardal website under Edith’s obituary at www.neilbardalinc.com on Saturday, February 20, 2021 11:00 am, and will remain available on the website to watch at a later date.
June 21, 1930 – January 30, 2021
In the early morning hours in the company of family, Mom passed peacefully in her sleep at the Selkirk Regional Health Centre. Mom’s incredible capacity to love and accept people was beyond compare. Her love embraced young and old, those who were near and far, and she leaves a legacy of many small things that are so big to the people who knew her.
Born in Teulon, to new Canadians from Sweden & Denmark, Edie grew up in the Interlake and was the fourth of six children. She leaves behind a wide extended family that includes 8 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, special nieces, nephews and cousins numbered in the dozens along with many others who lovingly called her “Mom” or “Grandma” or Auntie. Her love was boundless.
Edie spoke Swedish at home until the start of school where she began to love her new language of English. She excelled at school and created lifelong hobbies based on English words. Edie loved to sing to her four children and later to her grandchildren; those songs were like candy to their ears. They gobbled it up. Word puzzles and the Winnipeg Free Press Jumble contest were not only fun but lucrative; she won the Jumble contest numerous times. She often made her entry in the name of someone special in her life; sacrificing her win for that loved person. As soon as the kids were old enough to drive, legally or not, delivery of The Jumble before deadline was a mandatory errand. We all won because of her love for words.
After moving with her Mom Hulda and family to Winnipeg as a teen, she met Ernie at the roller rink. A dashing young man he was, who had the nerve to ask for a kiss right there on the rink! She allowed a small peck, and their lifelong love for each other was born. Married just short of their 50-year anniversary, husband Ernie passed in 2000. They raised their four children Greg, Grant, Gayle and Gerilyn first in St. James and later in Tyndall Park. Together with Ernie, of Irish heritage, they enjoyed living on Dingle Street for several years. In the late 1970’s they moved to Canada’s first housing cooperative, the Willow Park Co-op. They enjoyed the Co-op especially for its community of friends. Helpful neighbours were deeply appreciated by Mom after Dad’s passing. Mom loved the children that kept the Co-op lively. Hallowe’en often brought over 300 children to the door. Edie made sure that all received a huge smile and delicious treats. After a major surgery Mom sadly left the Co-op after more than 40 years as a member resident.
Entering contests was a passion and Edie had uncanny luck. She won the family’s first colour TV and a beautiful diamond ring, two very memorable prizes. Box tops, UPCs, and coupons were always tucked away for potential contest entries! She was a big fan of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and is remembered for wildly cheering on her football hero Kenny Ploen back in the day. Mom attended her first live Bomber’s game when she was in her 80s and was very disappointed that the 2020 season was cancelled. Mom also had a collector’s heart—if it came in a set, she set her mind to getting it. Salt & pepper shakers, spoons, stamps, Ty beanie bears, coins, angels and bells were just a few of her collections. Even better to collect, were things that gave back to the community such as Variety Club heart pins or the Jet’s “Return to Winnipeg” pins, and many more fundraisers. She loved commercial mascots and branded items, many times sending in proofs of purchase galore to get the Little Bean Sprout or making special purchases to qualify for a plush Natural Gas Genie. Through thoughtful gifting all of these things have found new homes.
After her kids left home to begin their lives in the big world, Edie took up bowling in commercial/recreational leagues. She loved the excitement and social fun of bowling at Billy Mosienko and Uptown Lanes for Bison Transport teams. She won many trophies and accolades from team members. She bowled vigorously into her 70s.
Baking was one of Mom’s hobbies that people far and wide appreciated. She loved attending all kinds of social events– birthdays, anniversaries, showers, and just plain gatherings—she always went with a tray of baking in hand. “Edie Pies” were so popular that she considered going into a commercial enterprise in her 70s. Knitting and embroidery came back to her as pastimes and many gifts of her works are still treasured by lucky recipients. There are dozens of kitchens out there with her cotton creations protecting dishes from chips, saving pots from scratches, or simply washing the dishes.
At a time when it was considered brazen to do so, Edie went back to work. With all four children in school, and despite winter weather conditions Edie rode Winnipeg Transit for an hour each way to work at the Nairn Avenue Clark’s Department Store across the city. Her earnings were always spent on “something for the kids”. She took great pride in overseeing the shoe department for Clark’s, then Gambles, and finally Zeller’s. It was a good fit for everyone.
Family was the main area of focus for Mom throughout her life. In a recent Dignity Therapy story Mom said that her greatest accomplishment in life was when she became a mother! She revelled in her babies as they came and continued to take pride and give love as they grew. Big dinners, celebrations, seasonal events were her favourite times to fill the table with loads of food for everyone that she could squeeze in. She cared for her widowed step-father after his health declined, juggling demands of four teens, her retail job, a husband, Trooper the dog, and various cats. All this without the luxury of running water. She was a marvel!
Edie was always thinking of others. In the week before her passing, she was preoccupied with finding a way to breach the walls of her sister’s restricted facility residence and get a haircut to her sister Grace! She ensured that summer holidays included a week or two at the beach and after the Parade a day of fun at the Red River Exhibition! She made sure that winter fun included a very frigid parade and a very warm breakfast with Santa at the Bay. The Shrine Circus and other special events gave her family something magical. Her ability to embrace everyone ensured that as kids married, their spouses and all of the spouse’s family would become part of her world. She took joy in seeing friends, cousins, neighbours and their families go off into the world to marry, have children, and share their stories with her. The family so appreciates that all of these people made room for Mom in their lives. Sorting her pictures was a trial of memory for us because her world included so many babies, so many pictures of children, and so many duplicates!
For 19 years as a widow Edie was very independent, managing her resources, health, housing and other matters with minimal support from her family. Her last year included 10 months of living in East Selkirk with her daughter Gerilyn and son-in-law Bill. They gave her a wonderful home, filled with loving care and attention along with an ever-changing view of seasons, birds, and life from their huge living room picture window. Saint the cat entertained Mom with the antics of a growing kitten. Cosmo, the ever-faithful lab, checked on Mom every day that she was there.
Survived by sons Gregory (Bonnie) Morgan and Grant (Carol) Morgan, daughters Gayle (Boyd) Halliwell and Gerilyn (Bill) Mekish, and special extended family Nellie (Dave) Guy. Her grandchildren: Stephen (Kelly) Morgan, Jeremy (Stacey) Morgan, Amber (Daryl) Kereluk, Jan DuMontier, Lynn (Jemahl) Zanidean, Sam (Janell) Morgan, Lee-Ann Mekish, Daryl Mekish (Jillian Malowney). Her great grandchildren: Kyleigh & Avery Morgan; Ava & Lily Kereluk; Emilie & Jasper DuMontier; Kaitlin, Sarah & Leah Zanidean; Samson & Wolfgang Morgan; Malcolm, Marcus and Kianna Brown; Faith Harawa; Colton Syrenne.
She also leaves her sister and best friend Grace Steski, her brother Frank Hemming, special niece Brenda Thomas, and many more nieces, nephews, cousins, their families, and a wide circle of friends.
Predeceased by husband Marshall (Ernie) Morgan, mother & stepfather Hulda & John Carlson, father- and mother-in-law Samuel & Mildred Morgan, brothers & sisters-in-law Clarence (Clara), Stanley (Ruth), and Marge Hemming, sister and brother-in-law Beatrice (John) Solarz, and brothers/sisters-in-law Frank Steski, Sam (Dot) Morgan, Mildred (Jack) Bastable, Joe (Crystal) Morgan, Frank (Olive) Morgan, Molly (John) Craig, and Eleanor (Bill) Barrett.
The family sends their deep appreciation to the Home Care staff and nurses in the Selkirk region, particularly Cathy, Keri, Monika, Judy, Lara and Dana who gave professional yet gentle care to our Mom. The Palliative Care Team led by Dr. Clark was a wonderful resource, especially Melanie.
Above all, Dr. Nadine Lecuyer deserves the highest honour for her expert and selfless care as Mom’s family physician. Dr. Lecuyer also extended her generous caring and energy to Geri & Bill as they provided direct care for Mom in the last 10 months of her life. Dr. Lecuyer is the “gold” in the gold standard.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Interlake-Eastern Health Foundation (Palliative Care) in Mom’s memory are preferred. PO Box 5000, Selkirk R1A2M2.
A private family service will be held. It can be viewed live stream on the Neil Bardal website under Edith’s obituary at www.neilbardalinc.com on Saturday, February 20, 2021 11:00 am, and will remain available on the website to watch at a later date.