STEPHEN PHELPS

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STEPHEN PHELPS July 10, 1948 April 18, 2007 It is with deep sorrow we announce the passing of our brother Stephen Phelps in his 58th year, following a brief but courageous battle with cancer. Stephen now joins his beloved wife and soul mate Valerie, whose passing in March 2006 was for Stephen a loss beyond measure. At her bedside through her final hours, Stephen held her close to his heart to the very end. Stephen was the son of Arthur and Rini, both deceased. Surviving him are his brothers, Michael (Joy) of West Vancouver and John (John Tinkler) of Winnipeg; sisters, Maria, Monica of Winnipeg; and nieces, Erica (John), Julia (Wiley) and Lindsay. In addition, surviving him are Valerie's mother Mary Iveniuk and brothers, Martin (Jackie), Bill (Denise), Mark, and Patrick; sisters, Terry (Bob), and Virginia; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. A strong work ethic and the importance of fresh educational challenges were instilled in Stephen early by our parents. Graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (University of Manitoba), and a Masters degree (University of Saskatchewan). Stephen enjoyed his first solo exhibitions in the early 1980s in Vancouver and Winnipeg. A skilled writer, Stephen also branched into editorial writing while in Vancouver. Returning to Winnipeg with Valerie in the mid 1980s, he became an active member of the local arts community, helping to organize national arts conferences, while sitting on several art boards, including the Manitoba Theater Centre. Stephen was a founding member of Artspace Inc., a major cultural facility in the Winnipeg's Exchange District. He was also the founding Director of the former Main/Access Gallery. For close to two decades, with Valerie as his administrative partner, Stephen steered the Main/Access on a program course that was emphatically community oriented, featuring the participation of both emerging talent and seasoned professionals. Stephen was also known for his critical writing. In the mid 1980s and 90s he was a contributing editor/columnist for Border Crossings Magazine, a nationally distributed arts quarterly. During this period, he was also a regular contributor to the editorial pages of the Winnipeg Free Press focusing mainly on government policy and the arts. A Gold medal finalist for several years running at the Western Canadian Magazine Awards for his entertainment and editorial writing, Stephen was also much sought after for his catalogue essays and reviews. The family fondly remembers the time and energy he spent in caring for our ailing parents before they passed -- Father in 2001 and Mother in 2005. Mostly we remember him as a devoted husband to his beloved Valerie, notably in that period when he and Valerie found themselves confronted with major health issues of their own. At Valerie's bedside when she succumbed unexpectedly in the winter of 2006, Stephen pointedly summed up the depth of his loss: Neither of us were meant to go on alone . His words were uttered in abject grief at the time said everything about the love that united them in life. In death, those same words must inevitably stand as his epitaph. Stephen was especially grateful for the heartfelt support of his siblings for their quiet counsel and uplifting visits, as he grappled with the emotional ordeal of coming to terms with his final days. We would like to extend a special thanks to all the doctors and especially the nurses and staff of the Palliative Care Unit of the St. Boniface Hospital for their tremendous dedication, care and warmth. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Stephen's memory may be made to CancerCare Manitoba Foundation Inc., 675 McDermot Ave, Room ON1160, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0V9 or the St. Boniface Hospital and Research Foundation Donations, Room D1003, 409 Taché Avenue, Wininpeg, MB R2H 2A6. Cremation has taken place and a celebration of his life will take place on Tuesday, April 24th between 2:00 and 4:00 pm at 1510 McCreary Road. Thomson In the Park Funeral Home and Cemetery 1291 McGillivray Blvd www.thomsoninthepark.com 925-1120

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 21, 2007