GERALDINE ANNE BURGOYNE (DREWE)

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GERALDINE ANNE BURGOYNE (nee DREWE) March 19, 1924 December 7, 2007 Peacefully, in the early hours of December 7, 2007, our beloved mother and grandmother, Geraldine Anne Burgoyne (nee Drewe) died at Poseidon Care Centre, her residence for the past year. Gerrie was predeceased in 2002 by Cyril (Cy) Burgoyne, her husband of 54 years, and by her siblings, Madelon, Dan, Richard (Dick), and Pauline. She lives in the memory of her loving children, Anne Percival (Adrian) of Winnipeg, Paul (Manuela) of Vancouver, Jim of Bangkok, Thailand, and Leslie of Sioux Lookout, her grandchildren, Jayne of Vancouver and John Percival of Montreal, and her step-grandchildren, Paul Fine of Winnipeg, and Michelle Nelson (Zalman) of New York City. Gerrie is also survived by her sister Rosemary Schlieper, her sisters-in-law Jean Drewe and Terri Drewe, her brother-in-law Leo Burgoyne, and by numerous nieces and nephews. Gerrie was an accomplished, independent woman - she owned her own travel agency, Aquarius Travel, travelled the world, dedicated untold hours as a volunteer (Girl Guides of Canada, St. Boniface Hospital Ladies Auxiliary, Heather Curling Club), and was a longtime member of Beta Sigma Phi. Her favourite leisure activities included curling, bridge, doll-making and time at the family cottage on Woodchuck Bay, Lake of the Woods. But Mom's greatest legacy is love, unconditional love for her family. She encouraged her children to follow their dreams and was always there to support them. Mom did without so they did not and took pride in their every accomplishment. Mom gave us the best gift you could ever give a child - she made each of us know that we were loved beyond measure. Gerrie was born in Fort William, Ontario, but spent most of her life in Winnipeg. She attended Laura Secord School, Issac Brock School and Gordon Bell High School. As a young girl, she won medals for marathon swimming and, later, she was a swimming instructor for the Canadian Institute for the Blind. By a circuitous route, her training as a bookkeeper eventually led Gerrie into the travel business and off on one exciting adventure after another. The family extends its heartfelt thanks to the caring staff at Poseidon Care Centre and to Gerrie's good friend, Marg Bluethner, and her Beta Sigma Phi sisters who never forgot Mom. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association, 200-310 Broadway Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R3C 0S6, or to a charity of choice. A private, family memorial service will be held at a later date. LeClaire Brothers are in charge of arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 15, 2007