MARY DOROTHY HERR (MANN)

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MARY DOROTHY HERR (nee MANN) Mom passed peacefully on November 8, 2010 in her room at Concordia Place surrounded by family. She was predeceased by her husband of 57 years Gordon Herr, sisters Phyllis and Agnes, brothers Willan and George and granddaughters Sandra and Carolyn. Mourning her loss are her three sons, Greg (Evelyn), Brad (Yvonne) and Trev (Cathy), sisters Fran Woods and Lila Groves and grandchildren Jennifer and Cassandra. Mom was born in Elgin, Manitoba on December 15, 1924. As a young lady Mom moved to Winnipeg to work as a switchboard operator and brought her small town values, honesty, hard work and dedication to family with her. Mom was respected and liked both in the workplace and socially. The Christmas Eve gatherings she hosted on Wolseley Avenue will be fondly remembered by all. Mom had a remarkable bond of love and friendship with her four sisters and when they all got together it was sure to be pandemonium. Mary was a stay at home mom always there for her three sons. She could most often be found in the kitchen, cooking, baking, preserving or tending to household chores, a true domestic engineer. Once she was satisfied her boys were on the right path she went back to work and loved her job as a secretary to the Presbytery with the exception of dealing with those darn gestetner printers. In addition to her official church work she could be seen in the pews of Greenwood United Church for Sunday worship and helping Dad with the collection. She also took organ playing lessons and enjoyed chorus bell ringing. She loved her shopping and frequented Polo Park and her favourite store The Bay . Mom's greatest joy was spending time with all her grandchildren and spoiling them rotten every chance she got. Later in her life Mom was diagnosed and beat cancer only to have Alzheimer disease arrive shortly after. Even though Mom was afflicted with this terrible disease she was always happy and could be often heard humming around the ward. Many thanks to the health care team at Concordia Place for always treating our mother with the utmost care and compassion. A celebration of Mom's life will be held at Chapel Lawn, 4000 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, on Monday, November 15 at 2:00 p.m. Interment and reception to follow. In lieu of flowers a donation to the Alzheimer's Foundation would be greatly appreciated. Grandchildren Carolyn and Sandra will now have Grandma with them in heaven.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 13, 2010