ELIZABETH BRANDSON

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ELIZABETH BRANDSON (nee McCALLEN) With great sadness the family of Elizabeth (Beth) Brandson announces her passing on December 1, 2008 at Golden West Centennial Lodge, Winnipeg. Beth was born in Randalstown, County Antrim, Northern Ireland on April 23, 1914. She was predeceased by her husband, Gestur (1974), brother James (2001), and her parents Samuel and Jean (nee Warwick) McCallen. Beth is survived by her five children, Neill, Lorraine, Patricia (Myron) Baska, Barbara (Paul) Gyselinck and Lloyd (Katharina Stieffenhofer); four grandchildren: Suzanne, Johannis Gus, David and Thomas; sister-in-law, Margaret McCallen; and numerous nieces and nephews she always held dear to her heart. In the midst of the First World War Beth and her mother traveled from Ireland to Canada to join her father. Beth spent her whole life in Winnipeg, first living in St. Boniface/Norwood, Fort Garry (Clarence Avenue), the West End (Sherburn Street and Clifton Bay), and in St. James in her later years. Married in 1947, Beth and Gestur (Gus) raised five children on Clifton Bay in close proximity to the extended Brandson family clan. Beth loved spending time at the family cottage at Gimli and enjoyed taking trips afar, especially those she shared with her sister-in-law, Alice. In mid life she followed her dreams to become a teacher, graduating from the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba in 1972 (42 years after graduating from Rupert's Land College (Balmoral Hall), and the Dominion Business College in 1931. She taught grade two at Margaret Scott School for eight years and E.S.L. to new Vietnamese residents coming to Canada. She participated in many social and volunteer organizations; her Ladies Club that met for close to 50 years, the Clifton School Parent Teachers Association, the First Lutheran Church Women's Group and Sunday School, the Y.W.C.A., the Volunteer Bureau Community Welfare Planning Council, Winnipeg School Division No. 1, the Canadian Red Cross Society, the Meals on Wheels Program, and the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Beth's life was blessed with the friendship and support of many dear friends. In her declining years she gave what she could, that Irish smile, a welcome sign of affection. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to the staff who became Mom's friends at Golden West Centennial Lodge. You know who you are. Thank you to Pastor Michael Kurtz and the F.L.C.W. ladies for your kindness and support; and to the Retired Winnipeg Teacher's Association who faithfully sent cards and flowers for so many years. A memorial service will be held at First Lutheran Church (580 Victor Street at Sargent) on Tuesday, December 9, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, Mom asked that donations be sent to First Lutheran Church, or a charity of your choice. Funeral arrangements are in the care of Neil Bardal Inc. (984 Portage Ave. at Aubrey Street and 3030 Notre Dame Ave. across from Brookside Cemetery). May the winds of love blow softly, And whisper so you can hear, We will always love and miss you, And wish that you were here. For all that life has given us, And all that's left to do, We'll know no greater treasure, Then the days we had with you. NEIL BARDAL, INC. 204-949-2200

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 06, 2008