FREDA MARION TAYLOR (MARTIN)

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FREDA MARION TAYLOR (nee MARTIN) Freda died peacefully at the Riverview Health Centre on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 at the age of 90 years. Freda will be remembered with love by her children, Bill (Marilyn), Laurel (Keith) and Ken (Kris) and by her nieces and nephews. She was a proud, loving and supportive Granny to Mike (Dawn), Nikki (Brydon), Steven (Kim), Amy (Eugene), Angie (Ryan), Ally, Laura and Great-Granny to Allison, Janelle, Kristen, Alex, Joseph, Skye, Keera and Taylor. Freda was predeceased by her husband Bill in 1998 and by her siblings, Ronald, Elizabeth, Millicent and Kathleen (in infancy). In 1936, Freda received her B.A. from United College and her Diploma in Education from the University of Manitoba in 1937. She found her first teaching position later that year in Erickson, MB and it was there that she met Bill, whom she married in November 1939. When her first two children were in school and Bill was in the hospital following service overseas, she returned to teaching at River Heights and Riverview Schools. In 1956, she left her teaching position to have her third child, returning some years later to positions at Lord Nelson and Cecil Rhodes Schools, retiring in 1976. Freda was raised in a home where the door was always open to family and friends and where there was an abundance of love and laughter. She treasured the memories of her childhood, and throughout her lifetime she did her best to ensure that her home (in Winnipeg and at Victoria Beach) was a welcoming place for family and friends. Perhaps owing to her own happy childhood, she was always passionately concerned for the welfare of young people. Over her lifetime, Freda drew great strength from her faith in God and in the power of prayer. She was a member for many years of Augustine United Church, Church Of The Way and The Meeting Place. The health, happiness and security of her family were always uppermost in Freda's mind. As well, she cherished the many friendships that she had throughout her life and mourned the loss of her siblings and the many friends who predeceased her - the price of living a long life. She did take some satisfaction, however, in outliving the doctors who predicted that she would die at a young age. For most of her life, Freda resided in Fort Rouge, but in 1993, she moved to Fred Douglas Place. She took enormous pleasure in this move and thoroughly enjoyed the past 13 years in her beloved downtown apartment. Her independent spirit was greatly challenged as her health declined over the past few years - most particularly in the past few months when she had to rely on assistance from family, friends and health professionals. She was extremely grateful, as is her family, to the Palliative Care Team which enabled Freda to remain in her own home in the weeks leading up to her death. The Team provided excellent care and a measure of human kindness that provided reassurance and solace to all of us. A service to honour Freda's life will be held on Tuesday, August 8 at 2:00 p.m. in Fred Douglas Place, Amenities Floor, 333 Vaughn St. Throughout her lifetime, Freda supported many charities that were dear to her heart and that she believed made the world a better place. Should her friends desire to make a donation to a charity of their choice in her memory, we know she would have appreciated this gesture, and we thank you on her behalf. Freda's arrangements have been entrusted to the Family Owned Funeral Chapel of: WOJCIK'S ALL BELIEFS FAITHS FUNERAL CHAPEL CREMATORIUM 897 - 4665

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 28, 2006