GLADYS LUCILLE GUNN (HAY)

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

GLADYS LUCILLE GUNN (nee HAY) July 29, 1914 October 23, 2008 It was on July 29, 1914 that Gladys was born at her parents' home on St. Cross Street in Winnipeg. She was the first child of George and Edna Hay, but in the years that followed, she would be joined by three sisters and one brother. By all accounts, as a child, Gladys was athletic, musical, outgoing and sociable and marched to the tune of her own drummer! After graduating from Gordon Bell, Gladys took secretarial training at the Dominion Business School. This was one of the few career options open to young women in the early 1930s but it suited some of her traits. She was organized, thorough and liked things to be done as near to perfect as possible. Gladys continued to work until after her marriage to J. Stewart Gunn. She met Stewart when she was just 16, but they didn't marry until 1939 when Gladys was 24. For those many years prior to their marriage, Stewart became like a second son in the Hay family, winning the approval of not only Gladys's parents, but also of her siblings Dorothy, Betty, Ruth and George. In 1941 Judy was born, followed by Gordon's arrival in 1945. Gladys was a stay-at-home Mom for almost all of the years that her kids were in school, only going back to work part-time when they were pretty much on their own. There is no doubt that her family benefited significantly from her efforts to keep a good home for them. She took great pride in her home, was well organized, was an excellent cook, a talented knitter and devoted an awful lot of time to provide for kids that were probably only truly appreciative of her efforts after they left home. (We thought what she did for us was the norm and we later found out that her efforts far exceeded the norm.) Imagine your mother making your lunch when you were in university! Her skills of typing and shorthand were put to good use in the 60s when she went back to work. She enjoyed the change of pace and really enjoyed earning a salary after all the years at home. When Stewart accepted a position with the Federal Government in Ottawa in 1965, Gladys continued to work in the secretarial field in Ottawa. Leaving Winnipeg at age 50 was hard on her, but soon she and Stewart had a circle of friends which they kept in touch with for many years after they returned to Winnipeg eight years later when Stewart retired. Gladys and Stewart had an active social life that included their summer parties at the cottages on Lake Winnipeg. In the early years they were at Husavik where they kept good company with friends Gerry and Charlie Major, and then, when they bought a cottage at Matlock after they returned from Ottawa, they met a host of new friends. They very much enjoyed their life at the cottage. Gladys spent part of almost every summer of her life at various cottages on the western shore of Lake Winnipeg, only giving up the regular back and forth trips to the cottage in Matlock when she was in her early 80s and Stewart near 90. Stewart passed away in 2002 and in 2003 Gladys moved into Metropolitan Kiwanis Courts and then in 2005 into West Park Manor Personal Care Home after a broken hip made it impossible for her to manage in her own suite. The environment at West Park Manor brought out the best in Gladys. The staff there knew her as gracious, witty, accommodating, strong-willed, spirited and happy. She has said in the past months that she has had a good life and has no regrets. She was 94 when she died. Some time ago she chose the following poem to be part of her obituary. Miss Me But Let Me Go When I come to the end of the road and the sun has set for me I want no rites in a gloom-filled room; why cry for a soul set free? Miss me a little, but not too long, and not with your head bowed low. Remember the love that we once shared. Miss me, but let me go. For this is a journey we all must take and each must go alone. It's part of the Master's plan, a step on the road to home. So when you are lonely and sick at heart go to the friends you know, and bury your sorrows in doing good deeds. Miss me, but let me go. Family members left to remember and miss her are daughter Judy, son Gordon, sisters Dorothy Brown and husband Doug, Betty Campbell, Ruth Ferguson and husband Art, brother George Hay and wife Doree and all of their children to whom Gladys was Auntie Gladys. Gladys and Stewart were blessed with four grandchildren, Geoff, Stephen and Andrew Gunn and Lisa Cusack and their families, which include eight great-grandchildren. A great deal of thanks goes to all the staff at West Park Manor for taking such good care of Gladys (and Judy) over the past three years. The staff on 1 East deserves special praise. A service to honour Gladys will be held at Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens at 4000 Portage Avenue on Thursday, November 6 at 3:00 and we welcome all those who wish to attend. We would be happy if any donations in memory of Gladys could be made to a charity that is important to you right now. Thank you.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 01, 2008