PHYLLIS VARLEY HUTCHISON

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PHYLLIS VARLEY HUTCHISON April 10, 1917 — October 20, 2008 At Lions Manor, surrounded by family, the loving care of Merry McNaughton and many wonderful care givers. Phyllis was born in Weyburn, Saskatchewan and spent her childhood there and in Girvin and Regina before moving to Winnipeg as her Bank of Montreal manager father, Leo Varley, moved his wife May and daughters Joyce, Phyllis and Ruth as his responsibilities grew. In Winnipeg they settled in the North End on Cathedral and then Bannerman where the family became long time members of St. John's Cathedral (Anglican). After Phyl graduated from St. John's High School, the Varleys relocated to Cambridge Street and soon Phyllis moved to Montreal where she received her RN at the Royal Victoria Hospital. It was there she met a handsome doctor, another Winnipeger, 11 years her senior, who took one look at her in her O.R. garb and said, "That's the girl I'm going to marry!" It was 1939 when she graduated with a gold medal, and Dr. Harold Carlyle Hutchison, anaesthetist, and now fiancé, took a post in Barbados. She came home, packed her bags, and followed him. On arrival, she would point out whenever telling the story, she stayed chastely with Dr. and Mrs. Harold Skeet, until her wedding, April 26, 1940. It was never clear if her point was she was properly housed, or if she was poking fun at the uptight "British society" there. In 1942 daughter Penelope (Penny) Varley arrived and after five years in Barbados, where Phyllis ran the operating room while "Hutch" did anaesthetics, the family moved back to Winnipeg and into the Hutchison family home at 171 Yale Ave. Son Christopher John arrived in 1946 and son James Varley in 1955. They also welcomed into their home 16 year old foster daughter Lenore Sushnyk in November 1965 who became a much loved second daughter. Later, foster daughters Linda and Donna Holmberg also quickly became family. Rounding out Phyl's daughters-by-love was a very special relationship with niece Mady Davidson, a soul mate and friend. Phyl and Hutch remained at 171, which had been built by Hutch's father, Dr. James Nelson Hutchison, until 1979 when they turned the house over to daughter Penny, and her family, and moved to a condo on Dorchester. Their favourite home though was always the cottage at Willard Lake. After Hutch's death in 2001, Phyllis moved to the Portsmouth where she resided until her health required a move, first to the Misericordia Interim Care and then to the personal care home at Lion's Manor. Throughout her life Phyl was a fiercely caring and determined woman who was active in her church, and the community. During the 1950 polio epidemic when health workers were understandably frightened to treat victims she volunteered to work every day directly with patients where help was most needed. She was a co-founder of Candy Stripers at the Grace Hospital. As President of the Mother's Union of Canada in the mid-1960s she was proud to have championed divorced women within the world-wide union. This stand required courage, determination and a strong faith in the face of opposition from the highest levels and was typical of her. Phyl wasn't shy to preach a Gospel of Love, rather than a Gospel of Rules and Regulations. She continued her own Gospel of Love at the leading edge when in her seventies she was a volunteer AIDS councillor at the Village Clinic, where she was known fondly as "the black condom lady." She was thrilled in 1978 to be named an Honorary Fellow of her alma mater, St. John's College at the University of Manitoba. Phyl's crusading nature may have been disappointed at times in the failures of others but was always guided by two deeply held beliefs: first, that no one more than she was in need of God's grace and forgiveness and second, that she was called to show a profound love for all and to forgive. If God forgives her trespasses as quickly and as lovingly as she forgave those who trespassed against her, she sits today firmly beside Him/Her. Phyl may well have been the world's best apple pie maker, letter writer, square dancer, Christmas block party host, dachshund walker, picnic hamburger cooker, skinny dipper, rum punch maker, and reader of her daily devotional and Bible studies. What is certain is that no woman has ever been a kinder, more loving and supportive wife, mother, foster-mother, grandmother, mother-in-law and friend. Phyl is survived by Penny and Sheldon Bowles, Christopher, Jamie and Elaine, Lenore and Gordon English, Linda Holmberg; grandchildren: Kingsley (Susan Goldie) Patti (Kristjan Backman) Aaron Hull (Tara) Leah and Kathryn Holmberg; great-grandchildren: Jacqueline and Rosemary Bowles and Abigail Backman; sister Ruth Elders and many cherished nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by Hutch, her sister Joyce Stockdill, along with brothers-in-law Dexter Stockdill and Jack Elders, and foster daughter Donna Holmberg. Phyl’s best epitaph comes from Hutch, who a few years ago during a family dinner at the lake looked up at her with the radiant warmth only 60 years of love can bring and said, "You are the most beautiful woman who ever walked the Trans-Canada Highway." Funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 24, 2008 at St. Georges Anglican Church, Grosvenor at Wilton in Winnipeg. Donations in Phyl's memory may be made to whatever cause you feel best suits this feisty woman and a Gospel of Love. Thomson “In the ParK” 925-1120 Send expressions of sympathy to www.mem.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 23, 2008