WINNIFRED JOAN ELIZABETH ACONLEY

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

WINNIFRED (WYNNE) JOAN ELIZABETH ACONLEY November 12, 1930 - February 7, 2010 It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my Mother at the Boundary Trails Health Centre on February 7, 2010. Wynne was the youngest of three children born to Elizabeth and Robert Fairbairn. She leaves to mourn her passing her only child Kathy (Les Chisholm), her only grandchild Matthew, her sister Marge (Vic) Clare and several nieces, nephews, cousins and their various spouses, children and grandchildren, also her companion Len Wheeler and the many friends she made over the years. She also leaves behind her two pugs Molly (13 years) and Buster (9.5 years). She was predeceased by her parents and her brother Al and his wife Jean and of course many animal friends too. Although my Mom was born in the city she was a country girl at heart. At 17 she started working for a local dog kennel and soon after she began a grooming business as well as raising and showing her own dogs (mostly toy poodles). Soon after I was born my parents bought a farm and built a house in the Pigeon Lake/St. Francois Xavier area where my Mom continued her grooming/boarding businesses. As well as continuing to raise Appaloosa horses she (and others for her) also began to show them. Most nights when I was a baby she would work on her hand beaded costume that was based on the Native people who originated the Appaloosa breed. In the mid seventies she started raising and showing pugs and beagles and later raised various fancy chickens and pheasants. Shortly after moving to the Stonewall area in the mid eighties the remaining horses were sold and my Mom found many other animals (parrots/cockatoos, various water fowl, turtles and finally Ice pigeons) to raise and care for. She also continued grooming dogs and in fact was still grooming right up until her fall on January 23. Another interest she had was in antiques and she had a very large collection of beautiful Noritake/Nippon china. We frequently enjoyed visiting flea markets and even antique sales but the best times were every weekend when we went to the many garage sales in the Stonewall area. My Mom loved to paint even when she was very young but it wasn't until the last decade that she finally found the time to really enjoy it. She started by taking an oil painting class once a week and she was still going right up until her passing. Every week she would start a new painting and have it finished by the start of the next class. She also did pictures for many people in our community as well as for friends and family members. Every trip in the car was a new opportunity to find something new to paint with old houses as her favourite subject. One year she even won a prize at the Red River Ex for one of her paintings. Gardening was another hobby she had discovered in the last few years and she was greatly enjoying the different plants she had planted. Part of her gardening passion was her water garden and she had many different colours of water lilies and types of bog plants. My Mom was a great cook, had a fantastic sense of humour and was a great source of good advice. She will be missed a great deal by all who knew her. She wasn't just my Mom but my best friend too! Garage sales won't be the same without her. Thanks to all the nurses at Boundary Trails for their wonderful care and support while she was there, especially those in ICU. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association or a charity of one's choice. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at MacKenzie Funeral Chapel in Stonewall. MacKenzie Funeral Home, Stonewall in care of arrangements

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 13, 2010