EDWARD FREDERICK ETSELL

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EDWARD FREDERICK ETSELL On Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 5:00 p.m., Ed passed peacefully into heaven at the Selkirk Mental Health Centre, Extended Care Unit. Ed had been a patient there for the past six years. Left to mourn Ed's memory is his wife Pat Malcolm Etsell; daughters, Sharon Etsell, Heather Regier (Art), Kathy Stiles (Damian), Cindy Etsell; sons, Bill Etsell and Rick Etsell (Lynn); grandchildren, Jewels Stiles, Troy Stiles, Alyssa Etsell and Alexander Etsell; as well as many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father William Henry Harry Etsell (1899 - 1971); mother Gladys Caroline Asselstine (1905 - 1996); brother Harvey Joseph Warner Etsell (1934 - 1984) and his sister Mary Elizabeth Betty (Mapplebeck) Hall (1938 - 2001). Ed was born in Virden, Manitoba on June 15, 1933 and lived there until he was about seven years of age when his family relocated to Winnipeg and his father began to work for the CNR. He completed his education in Winnipeg and went on to work at several different jobs including the CNR. Over the last several years, Ed was a resident of the Selkirk Extended Care Unit where he was a patient that helped the staff out with many little jobs and where he was always ready and willing to participate in any activity they had planned. Although it was difficult for his family to watch him go through the process of dementia, Ed seemed quite happy and remained fairly active. He was a walker all his life and continued to do so at the Centre where he walked continually and participated in their walkathon's and told us that he had walked to Italy and enjoyed some amazing food. The one thing that did not change throughout the process of dementia was his love of chocolate, particularly Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, milkshakes, ice cream and any form of sweets. In his mind, Ed was always busy fixing things, travelling, looking after and repairing his car and this kept him physically fit. The staff was always amazed at how strong he remained right until the end. Ed's life on the Unit was quite a different journey and fairly controlled but the staff told us this week that he was a favourite patient and there will be a huge loss on the Unit with his passing. Over the past week, many staff came in to stay good-bye to him and said he will be missed. On Friday, December 17, 2010, Ed's Funeral Service will be held in Cross Church (Weston Gospel Church), 1787 Logan Avenue (632-7322) at 2:00 p.m., with Rev. A. Duncalfe, officiating. As a family, we would like to say a huge thank-you to the staff at the Selkirk Mental Health Centre, Extended Care Unit. They are a very caring, compassionate, humourous and dedicated team and always, always go above and beyond the call of duty. Their first concern is always their patients and they made every effort to keep us informed of Dad's health concerns and activities. They truly participate in a higher calling of health care. A huge thank-you is also due to Pastor Alan Duncalfe who visited Ed the last few days and was instrumental in bringing Christ into his life. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ed's memory may be made to Selkirk Mental Health Centre - Patient Activity Fund. Cheques should be made out to SMHC - Patient Entertainment Fund and mailed to Selkirk Mental Health Centre, in care of Financial Services, 825 Manitoba Avenue, P.O. Box 9600, Selkirk, Manitoba R1A 2B5. So we say goodbye knowing that as we complete our journey here on earth, We will see him again in heaven.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 27, 2010