MABELLE GAWNE

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MABELLE GAWNE

Peacefully, on December 31, 2025 Mabelle Elizabeth Gawne (Chamberlain) passed at Rock Lake Personal Care Home, Pilot Mound, MB at the age of 102. She was born on June 1, 1923 and was the last of her generation of 11 children of Edward and Annie (Mitchell) Chamberlain who operated a dairy farm in Rossdale, MB. She and her sister, Lucy, grew up in the house of her mother's brother, Arthur Mitchell and his wife, Mabelle.

She married James Gawne in 1944, who after graduating from pharmacy, joined the Canadian Armed Forces and was stationed in Halifax, where they began their married life. They returned to Winnipeg after the war and raised four children, Joan, Jim, Tom, and David. In 1961, Jim bought Gibbs' Drugs Store in Selkirk, MB, and Mabelle helped manage the store until her retirement.

She and Joan moved to Langley, BC, in 1990, where she resided until 2015, then returned to Manitoba, to be close to her sister, Lucy, in Pilot Mound. She was active through her life with her daughter, Joan, at her side; she loved working outdoors and walks with her dogs.

She is preceded in death by her parents, siblings, her husband, Jim (1987), and daughter, Joan (2007).

She is survived by her sons, Jim, Tom (Kathie), David (Marcia), grandchildren, Ashley, Andrew, Emily, Christopher, Sarah, Elizabeth, and eight great-grandchildren.

Interment will take place at St. Andrew's on the Red at a date to be determined.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 10, 2026