LAURA ANDERSON (RICHARDS)

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LAURA ANDERSON (nee RICHARDS) August 13, 1922 - March 20, 2008 With her family by her side, on the first day of Spring, March 20, Laura passed away at the Victoria Hospital at the age of 85 years. Laura was born in Harlech, North Wales and came to Winnipeg in July 1946 as a war bride. She joined her husband Harry after a separation of 13 months and together they raised four children, Mair (Karl), Arnie (Coleen), Dennis (Nellie) and Jan. She enjoyed contact with her sisters in Wales, Elizabeth, Jennie (Ken) and sister-in-law Pam, and with many nieces and nephews in Great Britain and here in Canada. Mum was predeceased by her parents, Mary and Mathew Richards, her sister May, her brothers John and Ieuan and brother-in-law Harry. One of Mum's greatest joys was her garden. Though she loved flowers, what she looked forward to the most was her first tomato of the season. In her later years she joined the Age Opportunity on Sargent Ave. and took classes in painting - something she had always wanted to do. She created a few 'masterpieces' that are now treasured by her children. She also enjoyed her outings to Lake of the Woods with Mair and Karl, trips to Grand Forks with Dennis and Nellie, huge family dinners with Arnie and Coleen and visits to Winnipeg Beach and Gimli with Jan and Deb. While she was still able to travel, she loved going home to Wales and visiting with her family there. She and Runa, her good friend and neighbor for over 50 years, enjoyed many outings together over the years. We had lots of fun. Mum enjoyed her two years at Lion's Place and made many good friends there. Many thanks to the staff at the Misericordia Health Care, 5th Floor for the kind care and compassion they gave to Mum over the last three years. Also thanks to the staff of the Victoria Hospital for making her last few days as comfortable as possible. A donation in Laura's memory may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba, 6 Donald St, Winnipeg, MB, T3T 1R3 or to a charity of your choice. Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at the Glen Eden Funeral Home, 4477 Main Street. Viewing will be held one half hour prior to the service. Interment will follow in the Glen Eden Memorial Gardens. Hiraeth Some day I'll go back to the mountains, That shelter the peaceful vales, In that beautiful land of my childhood, The mystical land called Wales. I'll walk again mid the blue bells That scent the hillside so fair, And listen to the song of the rising larks And feel the soft breeze in my hair. I'll wander along at the edge of the sea, To watch the seagulls fly, And toss them crumbs from my aged hands To the sound of their mournful cry. My heart has often been weary, Since I left that golden shore, And my soul grows sad with hiraeth For those carefree days of yore. I'll see again the people I loved, Who loved me in return. The hiraeth will all be swept away, For I'll be back in my childhood Among the mountains and vales, In the place I loved so long ago, That mystical land called Wales. Lyn Gardiner Glen Eden Funeral Home 338-7111

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 24, 2008