ELIZABETH BERTHA COOLE JOHNSTON (WELCH)

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ELIZABETH BERTHA COOLE JOHNSTON (nee WELCH) Peacefully on April 5, 2012, Elizabeth passed away at age 91 after a long, full life. Predeceased by husband Ernest and sons Peter Robert and Mark Ernest. Survived by her children Claudia (David), Paul (Terri), Christine (Carl), and Andrea (Davyd), 11 grandchildren and five great-grandsons. Elizabeth was born in Minnedosa, Manitoba on July 26, 1920, while her mother was still grieving from the untimely death of Elizabeth's father. Her mother chose Minnedosa to give birth because it was a place where she had been happy in the past, but she raised Elizabeth, her only child, in Winnipeg's North End. The young women who boarded with them became like sisters to Elizabeth, who grew up to be a tall, gorgeous redhead with loads of style and savoir-vivre. She also inherited her mother's strength, compassion and self-sufficiency. After high school, she studied nursing at Children's Hospital and subsequently worked as a public health nurse. In her late teens, she met the love of her life, Ernest Johnston, and they were married in 1945. With Ernie ordained as a United Church minister, Elizabeth gamely took on the role of minister's wife in a variety of small towns in Manitoba and Ontario, as well as Winnipeg. Her generosity, fairness, practical good sense and good humour stood her in good stead. She was the kind of person that others (including strangers on the bus!) could spontaneously open their hearts to and confide in, and she was an inspiration and role model to more people than she realized. Elizabeth had a special rapport with children and young people. She was a wonderful mother and took great joy in raising her five children who - according to her - never cried and rarely misbehaved. Later, she delighted in her 11 grandchildren and five rambunctious great-grandsons. In 1986, she embarked on a new phase of life after the unexpected death of her beloved Ernie. As usual, she proceeded with strength, independence, and a sense of humour, and made new friends wherever she went. She always said she would live to be 90, and she did so with panache. Thankfully, the inevitable decline came quickly. Even as her body was failing her, though, she knew her own mind and lived on her own terms to the end. Our heartfelt thanks to the Winnipeg Paramedic Service and the staff of Victoria Hospital (Emergency and 5th floor) for the exceptional care, kindness and sensitivity they showed Elizabeth while she was there. Thanks also to the staff and residents of Fort Garry Rotary Villa and Armadale Hollows for their warmth and friendship, and to the Home Care workers, especially Monica, as well as bossy Nurse Debbie and her colleagues, who provided Elizabeth with respectful care when she needed it. Elizabeth lived well and died well. A celebration of her life will be held at the Neil Bardal Funeral Home, 3030 Notre Dame Ave., on Friday, April 13 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Youth Resource Centre Shelter at MacDonald Youth Services or to the Reverend Dr. Ernie Johnston Memorial Bursary at the University of Winnipeg would be appreciated. This world is not conclusion; A sequel stands beyond, Invisible, as music, But positive, as sound. (Emily Dickinson)

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 10, 2012