DOREEN AUDREY ROSE OATWAY (IBBETSON;

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DOREEN AUDREY ROSE OATWAY (nee IBBETSON; first marriage SIMMONS) January 22, 1924 - September 18, 2006 After suffering for over four years with gradual loss of motor and internal functions as well as a broken femur from two separate falls, then loss of her home and most of her belongings, to be confined to a wheelchair and tiny room, Doreen suddenly succumbed to overwhelming infections at the Grace Hospital, at the age of 82. Doreen was predeceased by her father Arthur Ibbetson in 1963; mother Flossie (Luffman) in 1974; first husband James Simmons in 1966; sister-in-law Margaret McQuay in 1989; second husband Wallace Oatway and sister-in-law May in February, 1998; and brother Kenneth Ibbetson in July, 2004. Left to cherish her memory are son Brian Simmons; sister Bernice Stuart; niece Arlene Parkin (Dave, Suzie, Brenda and Richard); nephew Glenn Ibbetson (Peggy, Kyle, Brianne and Charlene); nephew Brett; niece Kenda; niece Barb (Darren, Nicole, Haley and Jagger); and brother-in-law Ron McQuay. Doreen was born in Winnipeg on Hespeler Avenue in East Kildonan, in one of the many houses built by her talented and industrious father. Born the middle of three children, her poor mother had to pack and move every six months to another house built by Arthur. Eventually they settled on Ashburn St. in the West End where she, Bernice and Ken attended Isaac Brock Elementary School and later Daniel MacIntyre Collegiate Institute. Not long after, Doreen met Jim and married him in early 1945, after which he went overseas to fight in the air force. Doreen worked first for Great West Life and later for St. Paul Fire and Marine insurance companies. Jim returned around 1949 and got a job which sent them to Calgary where Brian was born in January, 1950, one day before Doreen's birthday. They returned to Winnipeg in 1952, and in 1957 Jim abandoned them, forcing Doreen and Brian to move in with her parents who welcomed and loved them. While working at Great West Life, Doreen met Margaret Oatway and later her brother Wallace, whom Doreen married in September, 1962. The new family moved to Downing St., from which Wallace commuted every day to the farm that he was raised on and eventually took over. Not long afterward, she got a job as secretary and bookkeeper for John Rankin Agencies for whom she worked until retiring in the 1980's. Brian married in 1972. Doreen enjoyed family get-togethers, card games and yearly vacations to Florida more than anything. She had to do most of the house and yard work on Downing St., but also was a member of the Eastern Star and a long-running card club. After Wallace's death in 1998, she moved to a condo on Thompson Drive for several years and later to one on Grant Avenue. In 2004, she needed home care and had to endure chemotherapy and many tests at Health Sciences Centre and later Victoria General Hospital. In December 2004, she had to move into a nursing home and selected Charleswood Care Centre. Doreen bravely endured all indignities and enjoyed TV shows, calls and visitors. Doreen was kind, sensitive, trusting, diligent, honest and inquisitive. She asked for little and appreciated anything done for her. Brian did his best to help and guide her, as did her family and two life-long friends, Dorothy Doran and Kay Rose. The family wishes to thank those management and staff of the Charleswood Care Centre, Health Sciences Centre, Victoria General Hospital, Grace Hospital and Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, that treated Doreen with respect and dignity, and wishes God's mercy on those that didn't. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 23, at Thomson In the Park Funeral Home, 1291 McGillivray Blvd. near Pembina Highway in Fort Garry. Viewing will begin at 2:00 p.m., service at 3:00 and reception at 3:45 in the Fort Garry Room until 5:00, when the procession will drive to Lilyfield Cemetery on Sturgeon Road, 5 km. north of the Perimeter Hwy. Active pallbearers will be Glenn Ibbetson, Kyle Ibbetson, Dave Parkin and Darren Reid. THOMSON IN THE PARK FUNERAL HOME AND CEMETERY 1291 MCGILLIVRAY BLVD WWW.THOMSONINTHEPARK.COM 925-1120

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 22, 2006