FLORENCE MARION VAISEY-GENSER (BERRYHILL)

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FLORENCE MARION VAISEY-GENSER (nee BERRYHILL) Marion passed away at the Riverview Health Centre on October 22, 2005 after a struggle with lung cancer. She was predeceased by her husbands, Edgar Vaisey in 1961 and Lawrence Genser in 1997 and her son Jacques Vaisey in 2003. She is survived by her sister Dorinne Thomson and her family; daughter Jill Vaisey and her husband Peter Dickof and their children Carla and Raymond Dickof; daughter-in-law Tasha Nathanson and her children Saskia, Ariana, and Bronwyn Vaisey; step-daughter Irene Corne, her husband Bob and their children Lesley and Jeff Wolman, Janet and Michael Katz, Maureen and Avi Slama, and Eric and Aimee Corne, and their children (Marion's great-grandchildren) Yale and Serena Wolman, Ariel, Liav and Neeve Slama, and Ira Corne; and by her step-son Steven Genser. Marion was born to Florence and Dolph Berryhill in Winnipeg on April 3, 1929. She graduated with a BSc from the University of Manitoba in Home Economics in 1949 and an MSc in Nutrition from McGill University in 1951. She went on to teach in Halifax, Corvallis and Guelph before joining the University of Manitoba's Home Economics Faculty (now Human Ecology) in 1965 where she taught and did research using sensory methods to evaluate foods such as canola oil. She joined the administration of the University in 1980 as Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and served as the Associate Vice President, Research from 1983-91. She published many papers and received a number of awards throughout her career. After her retirement in 1993, she was honoured with Senior Scholar and Professor Emeritus status. Elegant and erudite, sharp witted and well spoken, successful professionally and charming personally, Marion was an inspiration. She worked gladly to further causes as diverse as women in the sciences and Canadian food products. She served on national science committees and even appeared on Korean television to promote flax seeds for her beloved prairie provinces. She loved her family, playing cards, and ending the day with a nice bowl of vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce or - joy! - raspberries from the garden. We will all miss her terribly. A memorial service will be held in Winnipeg at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 29 at St. John's College Chapel, 92 Dysart Rd. A reception is to follow in the Cross Common Room. Parking is available across the street. In lieu of flowers, and in recognition of the tremendous help provided to Marion by the WRHA Palliative Care Program, the family suggests that donations be made to the WRHA Palliative Care Fund at A8024-409 Tache Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R2H 2A6.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 26, 2005