BLANCHE ROSE VICTORIA MORRISSEY

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BLANCHE ROSE VICTORIA MORRISSEY (née Kowalski) Blanche Rose Victoria Morrissey (née Kowalski) died with her daughter Linda at her bedside on Monday, June 19, 2006, in Winnipeg, MB, after a long and courageous struggle with Parkinson's Disease. Mrs. Morrissey was 88 years old. She was born on August 26, 1917 in the house built by her father in Dedham, MA; since 1954 she summered with her family at her seacoast cottage in Pocasset, MA. In 1971 she and her late husband Lloyd moved permanently to Falmouth, MA. Since 1977 she has been a frequent visitor to Winnipeg. Mrs. Morrissey was a graduate of the Dedham Public Schools, and worked continuously as first a nanny and then a personal chef until she joined the staff of Hayes-Bickford Restaurant on Tremont Street in Boston, where she met her beloved Lloyd, whom she married during the 1938 hurricane, on September 17. Theirs was nearly a 50-year-long romance that their friends and family envied. Both had beautiful voices: Blanche knew all the melodies and Lloyd knew all the lyrics of their favourite songs. Through whatever joys and sorrows they experienced, they remained in harmony throughout their life together. Mrs. Morrissey devoted her life to her family and friends and made their lives better through her love, support and good works. She volunteered for many charitable organizations as a door-to-door canvasser with an irresistible style. An avid gardener and birder, a superb chef and entertainment organizer, an excellent partner at bridge, a steadfast confidante and listener, a patient teacher, an ardent supporter of her family in all their endeavours, she had a knack for making the everyday beautiful. Mrs. Morrissey was predeceased by her husband Lloyd George Morrissey; their infant son Lloyd George; her parents, Stanley and Catherine Kowalczyk; her sister Catherine Stacia Grzyb; her brother Stanley Kowalczyk; her nephew George Grzyb, niece Irene Wildman and great-nephew Michael Grzyb. She leaves to mourn her passing and celebrate her life her daughter Linda Morrissey Wilson and her husband Roger (Winnipeg); her sisters, Mary Skulski and Antoinette C. Brown (and husband Charles J. Brown) of Dedham; her brother Edward Kowalczyk (and wife Janet) of Norwood; her sister-in-law Evelyn V. Morrissey of Mashpee; her many cousins, nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews [especially Georgia A. Petrasko (David) of Chatham; Theresa R. Inman of Falmouth; Tiffany Kowalczyk of Norwood; Cynthia Green of Brewster; Joseph Grzyb (Olivia Ostrander) of Medfield; David L. Brown (Ellis Phillips) of Boston; Charles S. Brown (Susan) of Newton]; and her neighbours and friends in Canada and the United States. Cremation has occurred at Thomson In the Park Funeral Home, Winnipeg. A memorial service will be held at a later date in Massachusetts. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mrs. Morrissey's memory to any of the following: The Parkinson Society Canada at either www.parkinson.ca/donating/donating.html or 4211 Yonge Street, Suite 316, Toronto, ON M2P 2A9, The Visiting Nurse Association of Falmouth, in care of Cape Cod Health Care Foundation, P.O. Box 370, Hyannis, MA 02601, The Spohr Garden Charitable Trust at either www.spohrgardens.org/friends.html or 45 Fells Rd., Falmouth, MA 02540. Mrs. Morrissey's family would like to thank the staff at the Golden Door Geriatric Centre for their excellent care and help during the last months of Mrs. Morrissey's life. THOMSON IN THE PARK FUNERAL HOME AND CEMETERY 1291 MCGILLIVRAY BLVD. (BETWEEN PEMBINA WAVERLEY) 925-1120

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 24, 2006