RETA JEAN COLLI

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RETA JEAN COLLI Jean Colli (nee Braybrook) passed quietly on April 1, 2009 at Elkwood Manor, Elkhorn, Manitoba. Born October 17, 1927 in the District of Hargrave, Jean was the third child of Walter and Sarah Braybrook. She attended schools in Hargrave and Virden, graduating from the Virden Collegiate in 1945. In 1946 she graduated from the Normal School in Winnipeg with her Teaching Certificate and took up teaching in a one-room school house in the Laggan District. On August 8, 1947 she married Godfrey Colli and they began farming just west of the Town of Virden. During her lifetime Jean took on a number of professional challenges: first as a bookkeeper at the Royalite/Gulf service station in Virden and later as an assistant branch manager at the Bank of Nova Scotia. She completed her professional career as the first Manager of Princess Lodge, E.P.H. Jean was also an active participant in many Virden community activities, including the Catholic Women's League, the Legion Ladies Auxillary and Donor's Choice. She was an advocate for and a member of the first Board of Directors for SAIL. In 1998 Jean and her husband were among the first residents of Kin Place. She moved to the Sherwood in 2006 and subsequently to Elkwood Manor in 2007. She was predeceased by her husband, Godfrey; two brothers, Sid and Gordon; and a sister, Lucretia. Left to cherish her memory are sons Terry (Jerry), Kenneth (Gail), Donald (Carla) and Brian (Susan), together with thirteen grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. A Mass in celebration of her life was held at the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Virden on April 4. Interment was at the Virden Cemetery. The family extends its sincere gratitude for the caring attention provided by the staff of the Sherwood and Elkwood Manor. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's society or a charity of your choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 08, 2009