JEAN NYE

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JEAN NYE On May 23, 2007, our dear mom, grandma and friend Jean Nye passed away peacefully at the Assiniboine Centre, Brandon, following a courageous battle with cancer. The youngest child of Hugh and Edith Williams, Jean was born on December 19, 1918, in Winnipeg, MB. She was very proud of her Welsh heritage and the influence it had on her life. Mom's love and devotion towards her family remained a constant throughout her life. She enjoyed a variety of jobs. In early years, she travelled to Alberta and worked with her sisters Kay and Vi at the Chateau Lake Louise. Later, she worked at the CPR Lunch Counter in Brandon with her sister Vi and brother-in-law Dick Page, moving to Brandon on a permanent basis in 1948 and again worked for Vi and Dick at the Golden Gate Café. Her love and knowledge of china, ornaments, and silverware were further developed at her work at Brandon Hardware. She also worked at Eatons in the China department. Her greatest role and accomplishment was as a wife, mother and homemaker. Curling was also an important part of her life. She was a member of the Wheat City Curling Club, enjoying the camaraderie and the competition. This was especially true if it involved her husband, son or daughter. Mom had fond memories of travelling throughout Canada to attend several Briers. One of her proudest moments was watching her son, Murray compete in the Canadian Schoolboy Championships in 1971. In addition to her family and home, mom's greatest interest was making friendships. These included many long time friends, to the staff at the Safeway store, the variety of kiosk proprietors at the Brandon Shopper's Mall and even in her last days to nurses and staff at the Assiniboine Centre. She always had a smile, a kind word or a thoughtful gesture. Because of this, she had a number of pet names including Friendly and Teddy Bear. She loved music, from Frank Sinatra and Guy Lombardo to The Beatles and The Backstreet Boys. Another great love was animals and she nurtured and cared for many of them over the years. Her knowledge of gardening and flowers are a dear remembrance to the family. Mom was always very proud of being a Canadian, and she was a very loyal Brandonite. Jean is survived by her son Murray Nye and his wife Karen Mitchell; daughter Debbie Nye and her husband Don Collyer; her grandchildren, Rhys Collyer, Dawn Affleck, Michael Collyer (Julie), Jeremy Collyer (Tracey); Jean's great-grandchildren, Caedence Affleck, Mitchell and Maxwell Collyer, Kaylynn and Drayson Collyer, and several nieces and nephews. Jean was predeceased by her mother and father, husband Ralph Nye; her brothers, Hugh, Robert and William and sisters, Kay and Vi. The ceremony to celebrate Jean's life will be held at Memories Chapel, 330-18th Street North, Brandon, on Monday, May 28, 2007, at 2:00 p.m. Donations in memory of Jean may be made to the Brandon Regional Health Centre Palliative Care Unit, 150 McTavish Avenue, Brandon MB R7A 2B3, or the Brandon Humane Society, 2200 17th Street East, Brandon, MB R7A 7M6, or a charity of one's choice. Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.memorieschapel.com. Arrangements are with Memories Chapel Pre-Planning Centre, 727-0330. You were my strength when I was weak You were my voice when I couldn't speak You were my eyes when I couldn't see You saw the best there was in me Lifted me up when I couldn't reach You gave me faith cause you believed I'm everything I am Because you loved me

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 26, 2007