ELVA GEORGINE (HELGASON) FLETCHER

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ELVA GEORGINE (HELGASON) FLETCHER A celebration of the life of Elva Georgine (Helgason) Fletcher will be held at Transcona Memorial United Church, 209 Yale Avenue West, at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 15, 2010. Elva was born on September 19, 1919 and died June 11, 2010. She leaves a loving household to celebrate her life and miss her greatly: her daughter Carol Fletcher, son-in-law Jeff Cook, beloved grandsons Andrew and Stuart, and Sylvia Jansen, whom she dubbed our writer-in-residence.' She also bids adieu to a host of much loved extended family, friends, and community. Following high school Elva attended the University of Manitoba and studied Home Economics. While there she joined Delta Delta Delta Sorority; several members remained her lifelong friends. She transferred to studies in Nursing, and in September 1944 graduated as an RN from the General. Elva retired from nursing in 1959 when she married Harold. Two years later they welcomed Carol and became a family of three. Together they created a home that was grounded in great love, mutual support, laughter and music. As family grew to include Jeff, Andrew and Stuart, Elva's joy and love were magnified. She was a believer that friends were also family, and the circle was wide and open. Elva was an active member of many philanthropic and community groups, including the Jon Sigurdsson Chapter of the IODE; the Symphony Women's Club; the Middlechurch Board; the Canadian Club; and the 3 O'Clock Book Club, among others. Elva was a great reader and a great story-teller. Following in the honourable tradition of the oral history of women, she could retell, with amazing detail and perspective, stories of growing up in Winnipeg, Punnichy and Brunkild, and travelling the vast Canadian prairie, the Rocky Mountains and her European travels. Elva loved opera, ballet, symphony and theatre. In music her good taste was reflected in her love of Harold's piano, and the sweet horn from the trumpets of Andrew and Stuart. Elva was predeceased by her beloved husband Harold and her parents Erl and Runa. To all those who loved her, Elva was a foundation and a launch pad. She was a constant encourager, generous with her gifts and with her time. She lived her life gratefully and faithfully. Our profound loss is equaled only by the legacy of love she leaves with us. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Transcona Memorial United Church, Winnipeg, www.tmuc.ca.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 14, 2010