WILLA MAUDE RUTHERFORD (BRACE)

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WILLA MAUDE RUTHERFORD (nee BRACE) With her daughter Brenda at her side, Mom passed away peacefully in Swift Current, SK on January 14, 2006 at the age of 94. Mom will be sadly missed and so lovingly remembered by her family, Ron and Judy Rutherford of Houston, TX, Joan and Don Gallie, Wendy and Ken Broadfoot of Winnipeg, and Brenda and Doug Heinricks of Swift Current, SK; her ten grandchildren, John (Mandy) and Michael Rutherford, Amy (Chris) Jaggers, Christy (Bob) Preston, and Todd (Cathy) McGreevy, Jeff (Lisa) and Paul (Teresa) Broadfoot, Nancy (Roy) Ottawa, Cory (Ronda) Heinricks and Cortney (Brad) Whitelaw; her four great-grandchildren, Phoebe Jaggers, Erin and Ian Preston and Michael Broadfoot; as well as many nieces, nephews and friends. Willa is also survived by her brother Ron and wife Doris of Saskatoon, SK. Mom was predeceased by her husband Jack in January 1988; her parents, Dr. and Mrs. D.W. Brace; and her sisters, Kay and Marj. Mom was born in Ontario on August 3, 1911, but moved with her family to Biggar, SK, where her father was the local physician. At the age of 17, she moved to Toronto, to live with her Aunt and attended the Royal Conservatory of Music and attained her ARCT - her teaching degree in piano. She returned home to Biggar to begin her teaching career, and met and married Jack in June 1934. Mom loved Biggar and all the friends they had there. She was involved in the Eastern Star, eventually becoming a Life Time Member; was a member of the Fort Nitely club; was a Divisional Commissioner of the Girl Guides; was the Choir Director of the United Church; and piano teacher and accompanist to many young students. In 1952, Mom, Dad, and we four children, moved to Glenboro, MB where Mom began her 47 years of involvement with the community. She taught hundreds of music students, voice and piano; was the Choir Director of both the United and Lutheran Churches; played for hundreds of weddings; was the Coordinator of the Tiger Hills Music Festival for many years; accompanied many singers, (including her daughters); and was a valued member of the Associated Manitoba Arts Festival. She took on directing the Glenboro Glee Club for the annual Golden Ages Variety show in Winnipeg, and several times entertained the audience with a favourite piano peice. The Glee Club continued to entertain audiences many times over the years. For Mom's dedication to the community and its music, she was nominated for a Woman of Distinction award in 1990, and was very proud to be a part of such an elite group of Manitoba women. Mom loved her weekly bridge games with the Glenboro ladies, this was a wonderful group of friends that she valued right to the end. Besides music, her next greatest passion was golf - a game which she decided to take up in her 60s! She loved her weekly club games as well as the several golf tours she took around the province with Wendy and Ken. The only time we ever heard Mom swear was on the golf course! Mom loved to travel, heading off to Switzerland and the Caribbean with close friends, and then with Dad, began their winter holidays in St. Petersburgh, FL. These few weeks every winter, were her salvation from all the business, and she loved to just sit, tan, and read. She continued these annual trips to the same location right up until 1998. In 1999, Mom moved to Swift Current, SK to be close to Brenda, and her Saskatchewan roots, and remained there for the rest of her life. Ron, Joan, Wendy and families, cannot thank Brenda, Doug and their family enough, for the countless hours of love, laughter and dedication they shared with Mom over the past six years. They gave meaning to Mom's life, and for that we will always be thankful. We must also thank the staff at The Pallisser, who for the past four years treated Mom with such love and respect, and always had her dressed up and looking great. A service in celebration of Mom's life will take place Thursday, January 19 at 2:00 p.m. in Glenboro, where she shared her life and love of music with so many dear friends. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Glenboro United Church Choir, to keep the music flowing! MOM, FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS WITH LOVE Jamieson Funeral Service of Baldur-Glenboro in care of arrangements. 1-204-827-2480.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 17, 2006