Obituary for Ivy Lea Mary Purdy
After a lifelong battle with cardiovascular disease, Ivy peacefully passed away with her family by her side on January 18, 2023, at St. Boniface Hospital.
Ivy is predeceased by her father Roy. She will be lovingly remembered by her mother Cécile and her two brothers, Kelly (Linda) and Wade (Donna). Ivy will be dearly missed by her partner Tom H., her sons Christopher (Brett) and Nick (Andrea), as well as their father Tom P. (Heather). She will be cherished by her grandchildren Josh and Miranda, in addition to all of her nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends.
Ivy grew up in Charleswood where she enjoyed skidooing in the ditches, tipping outhouses, and engaging in other mischief with her brother Wade. As a teenager she met Tom Purdy; they were engaged when she was 17 and got married a year later, where they started their life together in a home on Riel Avenue with their dog, Cerberus. Three years later at the age of 21, their first son Christopher was born, and eventually they settled into their home on Wales Avenue. For over ten years, Chris grew up as an only child, but much to everyone’s surprise, in April 1990, Nick showed up to complete their family. Though Tom P. and Ivy parted ways in 2005, they continued to be close friends for the remainder of Ivy’s life. She was overjoyed to gain a daughter when Chris and Brett married in 2007 and then began her new chapter as Bad Grandma in 2010 when her first grandchild, Josh, was born. Three years later, her second grandchild Miranda joined the family. Ivy was elated to inherit another daughter in 2021, when Nick married Andrea (and Andrea took Nick off Ivy’s hands). After many years, a friendship with Tom Hansen blossomed into a loving partnership that continued all the way through her final moments. Together they enjoyed their winter getaways, time at Willard Lake, and the car clubs, where Ivy was affectionately known as Spike.
In her youth, Ivy liked playing various sports and as an adult, she continued to play softball with Tom P. Ivy, Tom, and Chris went from tenting at Falcon Lake to road trips and hoteling with Nick in later years as her health began to decline. Among Ivy’s greatest joys was babysitting or simply spending time with her grandkids, relaxing at the lake, annual Christmas lights viewings, or going to Goldeyes’ games with family. She also loved spending time with her French bulldog Peri, cuddling on the couch, or bribing him with treats for stolen shoes. Ivy, with Tom H., joined the “Black Sheep” and “Transcona Mafia” (unofficial car clubs), and Ivy became the self-appointed Mama Duck of the group. Leading the pack with Tom in his Pontiac known as "The Ride", Ivy would routinely glance behind them throughout cruises to ensure that none of her little ducklings got left behind at a red light.
Ivy had a long career as a financial advisor, which began at various credit unions around the age of 18. She then moved to CIBC in the mid-1980s where she spent over 20 years before returning to her roots at Astra Credit Union, which would later become Assiniboine Credit Union. Ivy’s career was important to her as she not only made many lifelong friendships and had a work family, but also valued the work she did every day with her clients. She resisted moving up into management positions despite several offers throughout the years because she truly enjoyed being able to help people with big moments in their lives, such as buying their first car or home. After a career spanning over 40 years, Ivy retired in January 2022.
Ivy fought long and hard through her health challenges for decades to ensure that she was here for the important moments in her family’s lives - the birth of her grandchildren and the wedding days of both of her boys. She took great comfort in knowing that her sons had found their life partners and that they would be taken care of.
Ivy is predeceased by her father Roy. She will be lovingly remembered by her mother Cécile and her two brothers, Kelly (Linda) and Wade (Donna). Ivy will be dearly missed by her partner Tom H., her sons Christopher (Brett) and Nick (Andrea), as well as their father Tom P. (Heather). She will be cherished by her grandchildren Josh and Miranda, in addition to all of her nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends.
Ivy grew up in Charleswood where she enjoyed skidooing in the ditches, tipping outhouses, and engaging in other mischief with her brother Wade. As a teenager she met Tom Purdy; they were engaged when she was 17 and got married a year later, where they started their life together in a home on Riel Avenue with their dog, Cerberus. Three years later at the age of 21, their first son Christopher was born, and eventually they settled into their home on Wales Avenue. For over ten years, Chris grew up as an only child, but much to everyone’s surprise, in April 1990, Nick showed up to complete their family. Though Tom P. and Ivy parted ways in 2005, they continued to be close friends for the remainder of Ivy’s life. She was overjoyed to gain a daughter when Chris and Brett married in 2007 and then began her new chapter as Bad Grandma in 2010 when her first grandchild, Josh, was born. Three years later, her second grandchild Miranda joined the family. Ivy was elated to inherit another daughter in 2021, when Nick married Andrea (and Andrea took Nick off Ivy’s hands). After many years, a friendship with Tom Hansen blossomed into a loving partnership that continued all the way through her final moments. Together they enjoyed their winter getaways, time at Willard Lake, and the car clubs, where Ivy was affectionately known as Spike.
In her youth, Ivy liked playing various sports and as an adult, she continued to play softball with Tom P. Ivy, Tom, and Chris went from tenting at Falcon Lake to road trips and hoteling with Nick in later years as her health began to decline. Among Ivy’s greatest joys was babysitting or simply spending time with her grandkids, relaxing at the lake, annual Christmas lights viewings, or going to Goldeyes’ games with family. She also loved spending time with her French bulldog Peri, cuddling on the couch, or bribing him with treats for stolen shoes. Ivy, with Tom H., joined the “Black Sheep” and “Transcona Mafia” (unofficial car clubs), and Ivy became the self-appointed Mama Duck of the group. Leading the pack with Tom in his Pontiac known as "The Ride", Ivy would routinely glance behind them throughout cruises to ensure that none of her little ducklings got left behind at a red light.
Ivy had a long career as a financial advisor, which began at various credit unions around the age of 18. She then moved to CIBC in the mid-1980s where she spent over 20 years before returning to her roots at Astra Credit Union, which would later become Assiniboine Credit Union. Ivy’s career was important to her as she not only made many lifelong friendships and had a work family, but also valued the work she did every day with her clients. She resisted moving up into management positions despite several offers throughout the years because she truly enjoyed being able to help people with big moments in their lives, such as buying their first car or home. After a career spanning over 40 years, Ivy retired in January 2022.
Ivy fought long and hard through her health challenges for decades to ensure that she was here for the important moments in her family’s lives - the birth of her grandchildren and the wedding days of both of her boys. She took great comfort in knowing that her sons had found their life partners and that they would be taken care of.