VERNA M. MCCONAGHY

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VERNA M. MCCONAGHY On Thursday, December 18, 2008 our mom very peacefully passed away. Verna was born in Winnipeg on May 4, 1933 and grew up in the north end of the city. She was the daughter of Daniel and Anne Soroka and treasured her memories of growing up as a child of two such devoted parents. She would often relay heartfelt stories to her daughters of the endless hours she would spend cooking in the kitchen with her mother or listening to the history of her father's homeland at the kitchen table. She spent her childhood with two wonderful sisters who would reminisce often of their memories of family and friends in the neighborhood. Verna was given the greatest gifts of her life with the birth of her two daughters in the 1950's. In the 1960's she found herself as a single mom with the challenge of looking after her children alone. Verna was a woman of great strength who met every event in her life with courage, determination and an unwillingness to succumb to the many odds that stood against her. She began a career in the employment field first at Drake Personnel and later working and retiring from Employment and Human Resources with the Federal Government of Canada. During her career she always reminded her two daughters of the importance of helping others by modeling her unwavering support that she gave to the hundreds of people she assisted in gaining viable employment. She wished the very best for the lives of her family and friends and would spend many hours engaged in listening to their dreams and providing thoughtful perspective and insight. The best of times were spent in her home savoring both her holiday and Sunday dinners. Verna enjoyed community involvement and spent years involved in the campaigns for members of parliament in both the Conservative and Liberal Parties. She also was involved later in life assisting with fundraising for the Winnipeg Chamber Orchestra. In the last few years, Verna came to enjoy time spent working on improving her health at the Winnipeg Reh-Fit Centre and would often speak about the lovely people she came to know and cherish as friends. Our mother's life was principled and a compass for others. Mom leaves her two daughters, Brenda McConaghy and her husband Alexander Dryburgh, Ellen McConaghy and her husband Kelly Jumega, his daughter Julia, Ellen's step daughter. Also surviving Verna are her sister Jean Barry and husband Bruce, niece Corrine Ashton, husband Michael, great-nieces, Molly and Sophie, nephew Daniel Barry and his partner Jacob Hartman. A very special mention must also be made of her cousin Florence Scalena. Verna was predeceased by her parents Daniel and Anne Soroka, sister Irene Soroka and nephew Ian Barry. Our family would like to thank all of the health care personnel at both the St. Boniface Hospital and Winnipeg Regional Health Authority for the care and comfort they provided to Mom over the last ten years. A funeral celebrating Verna's life will be held on Tuesday, December 23 at St. Peters Anglican Church (755 Elm Street) at the corner of Grant Avenue and Elm Street at 11:00 a.m. Those wishing to celebrate Verna's life are asked in lieu of flowers to donate to either the Fort Garry Women's Resource Centre or Women's Enterprise Centre of Manitoba. CHAPEL LAWN 885-9715

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 20, 2008