DONNA FREEMAN (THOMSON)

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

DONNA FREEMAN (THOMSON) Donna was born December 5, 1921, in Miami, Manitoba, and died peacefully on March 23, 2011 in Winnipeg. She was predeceased by her son Gregory in 1963 and her husband Leon in 1999. Remembering her with love are her children, Linda Holeman, Randall (Carole Bernicchia), Tim, and Shannon Kernaghan (Paul Friesen) and her grandchildren Zalie, Brenna and Kitt Holeman, Alexis and Zoé Bernicchia-Freeman, and Daniel, Leila and Rebecca Bock-Freeman. Donna grew up in rural Manitoba with her siblings Enid, Marion, June, Jim, Shirley and Mary Ann, with whom she shared a close bond through the years. She chose a career in nursing; as an RN in the 1940s she found great joy in bringing comfort to others. She married Leon in 1946. Besides being a homemaker, she was an active partner through the growth of Freeman Television, a recognized landmark of Winnipeg's North End for 40 years. In the 1960s, one of Donna's adventures was to establish and lead the Manitoba branch of the Metaphysical Society. The 1970s found her returning to nursing. In her enthusiastic fashion, she established good friendships with her private patients. She also began writing, both non-fiction and fiction. She became a long-time member of the Canadian Authors Association and of Penhandlers, was published locally and nationally, and enjoyed the camaraderie of writers' groups. By the 1980s, she and Leon discovered the pleasure of travel. Donna was community-minded, and was a member of St. John's United Church in the North End, and later, John Black United Church in East Kildonan. She volunteered with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, the Humane Society, the Rotarians, the Christmas Cheer Board, and was willing to donate her energy whenever the need arose. Her family has found comfort reminiscing about their mother and grandmother: treasured summers at Falcon Lake and Winnipeg Beach; her humorous stories around the dinner table; holiday and family celebrations; the menagerie of beloved pets, and her open door policy that made everyone from friends to neighbours to her children's friends feel part of the Freeman household. Our sincere thanks go to Kildonan House where she spent eight happy years surrounded by friends, both staff and residents. Also thanks to the staff on the second floor of Parkview Place for their kind and gentle care. Donna touched many people throughout her life, and will be dearly missed. A private family gathering will take place at a later date. We ask that others honour her memory in their own way. THOMSON FUNERAL HOME 669 BROADWAY, WINNIPEG, MB R3C OX4 783-7211 Condolences may be sent to www.thomsonfuneralchapel.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 01, 2011