FERN MARIE ADAMS (BENDLE)

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FERN MARIE ADAMS (BENDLE) May 19, 1936 - February 23, 2002 Suddenly, at home, Marie was taken from us. Marie was pre-deceased by her parents, Carl and Willa; and her sister Gladys. She is survived by her husband and companion of almost 50 years, Walter Sydney Adams; one daughter Sandra (Blaine) of Headingley; sons, Les of Lethbridge, AB, and Wes (Shelley) of Toronto, ON; her sister-in-law Grace Remple; seven grandchildren, Candace and Jennifer, Cameron, Jackie, Lisa and Sabrina, and Sydney; two great-grandchildren, Brady and Riley; niece Marina; and nephews, Derle, Jerry and family, and Andrew. Marie was born in Prince Albert, SK, and raised on the family farm in Donnybrook, attending Donnybrook School until grade 6. She finished public school at Deer Park after the family moved there and graduated from MacDowall in 1954. It was during this time that she first met Walter. After graduating, she took a business course in Prince Albert, starting her career at the Household Finance office, later moving to the Saskatchewan Power Corporation. Marie married Walter on July 19, 1957, in Prince Albert, where they both worked, later moving to Edmonton for a period, then to Outlook, SK, while the Diefenbaker Dam was being constructed, as Walter was foreman on one of the crews, then back to Prince Albert where both worked various jobs and bought a house and a few acres of land on Meridian Road on the outskirts of MacDowall. It was during this time that Marie and Walter became racehorse owners, with Walter training and following the thoroughbred racing circuit from Winnipeg, through Regina, Saskatoon, and into Alberta for several seasons. In 1981, Marie and Walter moved to Dakotah, MB, to operate a large thoroughbred farm and race full time in Winnipeg at Assiniboia Downs Race Track. It was here where Marie met many new people and lasting friendships were started. When Walter retired from racing and went back to driving truck, Marie stayed working at the Downs Childrens Centre, where she now had six official grandchildren attending (with about 25 unofficial). Marie had a lifelong passion for books and reading and when she started work in the early 90s at the Portage Womens Shelter. She also began taking classes at the University of Manitoba. She retired at age 65 from the Portage Womens Shelter in April of 2001 and was currently shopping for antiques for the business she operated with Walter and Walters sister Grace, in MacDowell, SK. Memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 27, at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, 5535 Portage Ave., Headingley, MB. In lieu of flowers, donations in Maries memory may be made to the Holy Trinity Anglican Church Memorial Fund, 5535 Portage Ave., Headingley, MB, R4H 1E7. Arrangements entrusted to: CHAPEL LAWN FUNERAL HOME CEMETERY AND CREMATORIUM 885-9715

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 25, 2002