ESTELLE FARYON (LAMOUREUX)

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ESTELLE FARYON (nee LAMOUREUX) October 20, 1936 - July 13, 2008 Estelle passed away early Sunday morning, July 13, at St. Boniface Hospital after a brief illness. She was surrounded by family. Estelle was wife, mother, grandmother, big sister, friend, and aunt. You could not know Estelle without knowing her amazing strength. As the eldest daughter, as the mother of four children, as a young widow, as a manager at Eaton's Department store, as a grandmother and nanny to her seven grandchildren, as a cancer survivor, she had an unwavering courage that never broke, even under the most difficult circumstances. She was an independent and modern woman, long before it was easy to be such. She taught her children independence and honesty. She was anti-hypocrisy; never judgmental. Even her faith was quiet and personal and true. She could read a book a day and never resisted a good crossword puzzle. She loved Elvis and admired Pierre Trudeau. Estelle's physical strength nearly equaled her strength of mind and character. She painted walls, moved furniture, and rock by rock made her daughter Donna a beautiful stone garden. She could have beaten any one of her daughters in an arm wrestle. Estelle was loyal. She married Wally, in 1960. She never re-married after his death in 1983. She celebrated all that was good in Wally, in his life and his memory. At 47 she was a single mother with four children. It was a challenge she met with determination, giving her children every opportunity, sacrificing in her own life for her kids. Estelle's greatest joy - her time to finally enjoy the fruits of her life - was as a grandmother to her seven grandchildren. It was a gift to her children to see how their mother embraced their babies with love and happiness. She gave each one of them their first spoonfuls of solid food, taught them to sit-up and was there when they took their first steps. She took none of these moments for granted. She, quite simply, was beautiful. Estelle taught her children the lessons of forgiveness, modesty, patience, generosity, and tolerance by example. She was not a materialistic person. But she wanted to give her children and grandchildren everything. Before her death, she made a list of books she wanted each of her children to have from her home. In her note, she said it was the little she had to give. We know Mom; you know you gave us so much more in life. You gave us You, unconditionally. We don't want to say good-bye. We really weren't ready. You left so quickly, but in your final moments you were as you were in life, stoic and calm and accepting. We love you Mom. Estelle leaves to mourn daughters Donna-Rae Faryon (Roger Loewen), Winnipeg, Lori Greenberg (Mike), Winnipeg, Joanne Faryon (Les Tari) San Diego, Ca. and son William Faryon, Winnipeg, grandchildren Taryn and Mandy Greenberg, Sydney, Eric, and Chad Loewen, Sam Tari, Kaemon and Dakota Faryon, sister and good friend Deanna (Diane) Tait, Port Coquitlam, B.C., brothers Ed Lamour, St. Paul, Minn., Ken Lamoureux (Linda), sister-in-law Lorraine Faryon, Tyndall, MB and several nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by husband Walter, parents Edward and Bertha Lamoureux, sister Lucille Schneider, good buddy and brother-in-law Bill Tait and long-time best friend Jane Froese. Cremation has already taken place according to her wishes. Donations can be made to the Manitoba Kidney Foundation. Arrangements entrusted to: GLEN LAWN FUNERAL HOME 982-7550

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 26, 2008