MARGUERITE AILEEN GUNTER BA

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MARGUERITE AILEEN GUNTER BA (Hons), BEd April 13, 1912 - February 12, 2007 Marguerite Aileen Gunter passed away suddenly, but peacefully, at Riverview Health Centre on February 12, 2007, at the age of 94. She was predeceased by her brother-in-law John Holmes in 1968, her father Earle in 1978, her mother Dorothy in 1993 and her sister Vera Holmes in 2001. She is survived by Vera and John's children: Lionel (Maureen) and their children, Bob (Lori) and children Jason and Jared of Kamloops, Susan (Shawn) and children Jasmine, Jamie and Jessie, John (Jennifer) and children Andy, Cole and Cassidy, Kathy (Dan) and children Christopher and Brittany, Karen and children Nadia and Owen; Roger; Doug (Wendy) and their children Kristen and Heidi (Christopher); and Ted (Helmie) and their children Govinda (Emma) and daughter Haani, Satya and Bohdi all of Denmark, Western Australia. She is also survived by her sister Merle Chatto (Don) of Carmichael, CA, and their children: Tony (Jan) of Kodiak, AK, and daughter Stacy, Australia; Mia (Ted) and children Shawn and Lydia (Zack) and son Zack all of Folsom, CA; Peter; Jake and son Christopher of Carmichael; and Paul (Wendy) and daughter Vanessa of Ventura, CA. Aileen was born in Winnipeg and attended John M. King and Heather Schools and then moved with her family to their St. Vital farm and the house her father built, in 1920. She then attended Woodlawn and Norberry Schools. She was an exceptional student, entering the University of Manitoba at the age of 14 and graduating in 1931 with an Honours History degree at the age of 19. After a year of Normal School, she began an illustrious teaching career that spanned 44 years. She taught at Woodlawn, Norberry and Windsor Schools in St. Vital, and Greenway and Luxton Schools in Winnipeg. She was fluent in French and German and could converse in Spanish. She earned a certificate at the French Summer School of McGill University in 1936 and in 1951 she began a course of study at the University of Paris, Institut De Phonetique, earning two certificates and a diploma. She then taught at the International School in Paris for the 1952/53 school year. She returned home in 1953 and resumed her career, first as Vice-Principal of Luxton School, then as Principal of Queenston School, and finally as Principal of Laura Secord School. She was urged to accept offered promotions to larger schools but she always declined because she was very happy at Laura Secord, where she remained until her retirement in 1976. In 1957 she received her Bachelor of Education Degree from the University of Manitoba. She worked with many fine teachers and administrators and so many wonderful students. She outlived most of her peers and friends, but right to the end former pupils kept in touch. She was a longtime member of St. Vital United Church and the University Women's club, she was a past President of the Winnipeg branch of The Manitoba Teacher's Society and the Winnipeg branch of the Canadian Institute of International Affairs, and she was a founding member of the Winnipeg branch of the Canadian College of Teachers. Aileen's personal life was centred around her family. Known by her sisters and all of the three succeeding generations as Neen, she was a second mother to her sister's children and a doting aunt to all their children and grandchildren. She helped keep the family farm together during her father's devastating year-long illness in 1936, and she was a devoted daughter whose care made it possible for her parents to live out their days in their own home to the ages of 90 and 103 respectively. She assisted with tuition, paid for driving lessons, turned requests for loans into gifts, gave generous allowances, always knew when a niece or nephew needed a new dress or jacket or when they needed advice or a shoulder to lean on. Birthdays were always special with Neen whether she took you out to eat at Pic's, Child's, the Pancake House or the Paddlewheel. Her Christmas Stockings, always lovingly filled with such wonderful treasures, made it seem like a second Christmas at Gramma's house. She lovingly embraced the spouses of her family and the love was amply returned. Neen's passing has left a large gap in the family fabric. Cremation has taken place. In accordance with Neen's wishes, a family graveside service will take place at St. Vital Cemetery on March 16 at 1:00 p.m., Reverend Russell Wardell officiating.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 09, 2007