EDNA VRYENHOEK (GRAY)

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EDNA VRYENHOEK (nee GRAY) 1911 - 2007 Peacefully on December 8, 2007 Edna passed away at St. Boniface Hospital at the age of 96 years. Born in 1911, Edna Ella Gray was the oldest of six children and grew up in Winnipeg. She excelled in school, and loved to read and learn - a love she maintained throughout her life. In 1928 she married Abraham (Abe) Vryenhoek and after short turns in Calgary, Kingston and Edmonton, they settled in good old Winnipeg to raise their two sons. Some of the happiest - and hardest - times of her life were summers on their gentleman's farm in Lydiatt on the Brokenhead River, where she always remembered the pigs were kept so clean they didn't smell, and Edna grew an amazing garden. In the late 1960s and 1970s, she brought her care and compassion to the residents of Lion's Manor, where she worked. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband Abe, son Robert, daughter (in-law) Willa, brothers Vic, Gordon and Lorne, sister Jean Head and many other beloved members of her extended family. Left to remember Edna are her son Ralph and daughter (in-law) Billie of Pittsburgh; grandchildren Darren (Carrie Critchley), Lori (Wes McLeod), Terri (Elgert), Bruce, Leslie, Sharon (Kevin McLean), Doug (Terry) and all their families; sister Hazel Baker and her children and grandchildren; niece Bev (Nick) Laping and other nephews and nieces, as well as many more loved relatives and friends. Our beloved mother, auntie, sister, friend and Nanny will be best remembered for her sly wit, her deep concern for our beautiful world, her independent streak and the world's best chocolate chip cookies, which she lovingly made for all her kids. The family wishes to thank Dr. Fontigny and the staff on 6 South in St. Boniface Hospital for their care, Edna's homecare workers, the attentive staff at the Salisbury House on Henderson Highway, and her neighbours, Lorna Pyrih and Fran Partridge for many years of friendship. A funeral service will be held on Friday, December 14, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at Thomson Funeral Home in Winnipeg. Pallbearers: Darren Vryenhoek, Doug Vryenhoek, Wes McLeod, Justin McLeod, Kevin McLean, Tyler Hornung and Richard Hornung; honorary pallbearers Bruce Vryenhoek and Ian Norquay. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Boniface Hospital Research Foundation, Room D1003, 409 Tache Ave., Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6. THOMSON FUNERAL HOME 669 Broadway - 783-7211 www.thomsonfuneralchapel.com Life stories may be shared with friends and family across the globe at www.mem.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 13, 2007