ELIZABETH (ELSIE) HUTCHINGS

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ELIZABETH (ELSIE) HUTCHINGS Peacefully, with her family by her side, Elizabeth (Elsie) Hutchings (nee Jaman) died at sunrise on Wednesday, February 18, 2009 at Holy Family Nursing Home, Winnipeg. The eldest of eight children, Elsie was born April 3, 1916 in Winnipeg to Mary Jaman and was raised by her mother and step-father on the family farm near Gardenton, Manitoba. At an early age she went to work in Winnipeg. I had five dollars in my pocket and I didn't know where Main Street was , that was our mother. Intelligent, funny, brave, with a heart of gold and a mind that was alert until the end. As a seamstress in the garment industry of 1930s Winnipeg, she walked the picket line with organizing needle trade workers. During the war, she worked as an engine wiper in the CPR roundhouse and there met her husband of 49 years, Allan. Together they moved to Harstone Road in Charleswood and raised four children. After retirement, they returned to the North End where she and Allan worked together renovating small houses and leaving a legacy of trees, lovingly planted and tended. Elsie taught us to be thrifty, to care for the underdog, to work hard, and to think for ourselves. She was a great cook, a shrewd manager, a natural gardener and a loving matriarch. Predeceased by her husband Allan in 1994; sisters, Florence and Della; brothers, John and Bill, Elsie leaves four children: Mary of Erickson, MB, Robert (Glyniss), Allan (Linda), both of Winnipeg, and Debbie of Vancouver; five grandchildren: Carol Neilson, of Montreal, Aaron (Amber), Rebecca (Dave), Meghan (Paul), Ainsley and one great-grandchild: Emily Reeves Gabrielle, all of Winnipeg; two sisters, Doris Malinoski and Agnes Thompson and one brother, Nick Shankaruk; many nieces and nephews and their families; cousins and friends. Thank you to Tara Dawn of the Charleswood Care Home and the wonderful staff of St. Mary's Ward at Holy Family Nursing Home, especially Mary Lou, Helen and Kristina who were so kind to Mom and made her last days comfortable and golden. A memorial service honouring Elsie will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, February 23, 2009 in the chapel of Voyage Funeral Home, 220 Hespeler Avenue at Henderson Highway, Winnipeg. Should friends like to send flowers, please remember Mom's words, Ahh! That's crazy! Don't waste your money! Condolences may be sent to voyage@mts.net

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 21, 2009