NORA (PAT) KATHLEEN GREENGRASS (COLLINS)

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NORA (PAT) KATHLEEN GREENGRASS (nee COLLINS) Peacefully at Health Sciences Centre on January 6, 2008, Mom passed away. Born September 17, 1916 on a farm near Carberry, Manitoba, she was the third daughter of Michael Kelly and Iva Grace Collins. After her father passed away from the Spanish Influenza of 1918, she moved into Carberry. In 1924, Granny Collins moved to Winnipeg and left her four daughters under the care of Mom's Uncle Bill and Aunt Meta. These adoptive parents came to love the four daughters as their own. It was during this time that Mom's Uncle George gave Mom the nickname of Pat and that name stuck with her the rest of her life. In 1928 Granny Collins married William Martin and the family moved to Winnipeg's north end. Grandpa Martin's three children joined with Granny's four children and after two more children were born, it was one big happy family. Mom was athletic by nature and enjoyed skating, volleyball and rugby during her high school years. She was a star athlete with a competitive spirit. Upon a visit to her Aunt and Uncle in Transcona, she developed an interest in Tennis. It was there that she met Dad. A beautiful woman in body and soul, Dad fell passionately in love with her and they were married at St. John's Cathedral in July, 1938. Mom continued to live in Transcona and gave birth to three sons, James Robert (1941), Roy Allan (1948) and Frederick George (1955), all who dearly loved her. Mom continued to be very active in sports and enjoyed tennis, bowling, and curling. She was highly skilled and won many trophies. She was involved in the Transcona Memorial Church Choir and sang soprano. Mom loved her children dearly. She was a stay-at-home Mom who prepared nourishing meals, baked cookies, mended clothes, planted gardens, did craft work and was an immaculate housekeeper. She entertained family members quite often. Above all else, Mom loved her children unconditionally and she was an amazing listener and advisor and had all the time in the world to attend to sicknesses, ease burdens and lessen troubles. Her guidance steered all her boys to make positive choices in life. She gave all that she had to her family. Mom and Dad together built a family cottage at Victoria Beach so that their boys would have perennial enjoyment in a paradise where they could develop new relationships, foster good work ethics and participate in sport and recreation. Mom and Dad loved the beach as well and it was here that Mom developed an interest in golf and in later years won the senior low gross tournaments year after year. Mom enjoyed several trips to Florida and one special trip to Hawaii. Throughout her life and especially in later years, Mom enjoyed playing cards, scrabble and bingo. It was uncanny how lucky she was in these endeavours. Because of her cheerful, upbeat and positive outlook on life, Mom had many friends and an active social life. She leaves to mourn her passing, her husband George, her sons, James, Roy and Frederick, her grandchildren, Gary, Candice, James, Karen, John and Caroline, her great-grandchildren, Kaily, Nicholas, and Cassidy; her four sisters, Marion, Gwen, Kay and Joyce, her brother Bill and numerous nieces and nephews. A celebration of life will be held at Kildonan United Church at 187 Kilbride Avenue on Friday, January 11, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. Donations may be made to CancerCare Manitoba Foundation but flowers are gratefully declined. Many thanks to the staff at Health Sciences Centre and Beacon Hill Lodge.

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 09, 2008