HILDA CLARISSA GOSNELL (PLOMP)

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HILDA CLARISSA GOSNELL (nee PLOMP) Hilda Gosnell of Pilot Mound, MB, died peacefully in Rock Lake Health District Hospital in Crystal City, MB, at the age of 90 years on July 16, 2007. Hilda was born June 10, 1917, in Winnipeg, MB, the eldest of the 10 children of W. F. Plomp and Winifred Alston Woolfe. She moved with her parents to LaRiviere, MB, at an early age and the family settled in the beautiful LaRiviere hills. She recalled a challenging but fun-filled childhood and youth of hard work, school, berry picking, swimming at the dam, and rabbit stew. She attended LaRiviere school until she finished Grade 11, and then completed Grade 12 through private lessons with Mrs. Marjorie Smith. Hilda married James Clifford (Cliff) Gosnell on June 10, 1938, in Pilot Mound. They moved to and farmed in the Fallison District for 36 years prior to returning to Pilot Mound where they bought Hilda's dream castle which she fondly named Hilcliff House and where she resided until her death. Hilda had many hobbies through the years from embroidery, dress making, quilting, handicrafts, scrapbooking (before it was stylish), hooking rugs, gardening, and many others. She enjoyed and contributed to many boards, groups, and volunteer organizations, and most often held a leadership role of president, vice president, chairperson, or secretary treasurer in each of these organizations. She was especially invigorated by her work in her church groups, in the early years Rosebud W.M.S. and in later years Pilot Mound U.C.W., the horticultural society, the Louise Consumers Co-op, and the women's institute. Hilda is lovingly remembered by her son Jim; daughter Kathy (Larry) McPhail; grandchildren, Deborah, Jennifer, and Jonathan McPhail; her sisters, Mary Burnett, Irene (Fred) Cook, Dorothy Undheim, Ruby Anderson, Margaret (Dan) Knight, Rosella Cook, and Grace Wagner; as well as her brother Les (Jean) Plomp; her special cousin Ina Plomp in The Netherlands, nieces and nephews in the Gosnell and Plomp families, and her many, many friends in the current and past communities where she has lived (Eton, Rosebud and Fallison Districts, Crystal City and Pilot Mound). Hilda cherished her books and loved to read prose and poetry. She loved to read and also published items of news events as well as a weekly column of helpful hints and wisdom. She will be long remembered for her Highlites from Hilda in the local newspaper. Funeral service was held at Pilot Mound United Church on Wednesday, July 18, 2007, at 2:00 p.m. Rev Irene Onuch officiated. Interment was at Greenwood Cemetery. Friends, if they desire, may donate in her memory to the United Church in Pilot Mound, in care of Irene Onuch. Many thanks to Dr. Rian Bester and the nursing staff for their kind and compassionate care and their support for Hilda and her family; also thanks to Hilda's many friends in Pilot Mound and Crystal City. Graham's Funeral Service of Pilot Mound in care of arrangements

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 19, 2007