EUNICE HINDS (TUXFORD)

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EUNICE HINDS (nee TUXFORD) Writes right, throws left On March 13, 2009 our mother died at the Grace Hospital in Winnipeg. Mom was born April 8, 1923 to Tom and Elsie Tuxford (nee Sayer) at 146 Rosseau Avenue West in Transcona. Among mom's happiest days were those summers spent at Lake Ottermere at the Tuxford and Sayer family cottages, both built in the 1920's. The Tuxfords and Sayers were railroad people who worked at the CNR shops. Mom was athletic. As a youngster, she played ball and traipsed in to Winnipeg to speed skate. Mom graduated grade 11 from Central School in Transcona. In 1942, Mom married our father Isaac (Ike) Hinds. They lived in Weyburn, SK during the Second World War for a brief time before returning to Transcona. As a newlywed, Eunice helped care for her ailing mother-in-law. In 1948, Eunice and Ike moved to Mulvey Avenue in Fort Rouge and in 1953 to Munroe Avenue in EK where Dad took a job at the Imperial Oil Refinery on Henderson Highway. Raising five children, times may have been difficult periodically, but our parents always found a way to rent a cabin for a week or two in the summer or take us to Illinois and Michigan to visit aunts, uncles and cousins. Mom managed the finances until Dad thought he could do a better job. He relinquished the responsibility two weeks later. It was fortuitous that mom knew how to manage money because she was widowed at age 42, shortly after the March 4, 1966 blizzard. Mom's mother died seven months later. Eunice had a number of interests. After Dad died, she signed up for piano lessons. As a young girl at Ottermere, she learned to swim. Swimming became a form of therapy after Dad died. In 1980, she swam 100 miles and proudly became a member of the 100 mile swim club at the E-K YMCA. Mom liked to bowl. In the 1977-78 season, she rolled the ladies high single score of 345 in the St. Gerard's mixed league. She played bridge and loved to read. Christmas presents simply meant a trip to the bookstore. Eunice was an avid Scrabble player, and played up to her last days. She would frequently play one letter, make three words, score 30 points and jam up the board. Mom enjoyed the Blue Jays and the Brier. We were together as a family celebrating her 80th birthday when Mike Weir won the 2003 Masters. She was glued to the TV with the rest of us. Mom could cook with the best of them. From time to time, she indulged in a happy hour with friends Audreen Barnes and Mabel Pitura in the block at 1660 Henderson Highway. St. Stephen's Anglican Church was a large part of Mom's life, spiritually and socially. She looked forward to Sunday morning breakfasts with the ladies after the 8:30 service. In addition to husband Ike and mother Elsie, who died in 1966, Mom was predeceased by her father Tom in 1974, brother Jack in 2006 and infant sister Ellen Grace. Euni is survived by son Tom (Marian) Aynslie and Selena; daughter Merle West (Dick) Michael and Patricia; son Ken (Marie-Anne) Thomas and Shannon; son Donald (Joanne) Lindsay, James, Allison, Kelsey; daughter Joan Duczminski (Barry) Mandy and Megan; great grandchildren Emma, Raene and Riley. We wish to thank the staff at both Concordia and Grace Hospitals for their care and compassion. We are having a memorial service to celebrate Mom's life on Monday, March 23, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Stephen's Anglican Church, 220 Helmsdale Ave. in East Kildonan. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Stephen's Church or a charity of your choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 20, 2009