FREDERICKA ELEANOR LOVE (SUMNER)

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FREDERICKA ELEANOR LOVE (nee SUMNER) July 3, 1911 - April 2, 2011 After a brief illness, Rica passed away peacefully with her family at her side at Moog and Friends Hospice House in Penticton BC. The last of her generation she was proud of the fact that she was almost 100 years old. She was a young centenarian who always maintained that age is just a number. She loved to play cards and even in her last few weeks she still joined friends in a game of bridge or crib. One was always aware of Rica's presence because wherever she went, there was laughter. Whether it was with old friends or new, extended family or her grandchildren, Rica shared a spirit of joy that will not be forgotten. Her wit and sense of humour were ever present. She lived life to the fullest and leaves behind a legacy of laughter. Prior to moving to BC, Rica lived in Winnipeg for 57 years. She was born in Liverpool England and arrived with her mother, five sisters and two brothers in 1919 after her father was killed in the First Great War. She graduated from St. John's High School and a week later began a career with the Winnipeg School Division that spanned more than 40 years. Family was always very important to Rica and she was proud of her many nieces and nephews. In her later years she adopted a special daughter, Pat Love and two precious grandsons Jamey and Steven who adored her. Rica was predeceased by three husbands, Reginald McGrath, Wilfred Holbrow and Jim Love. She was also predeceased by her mother Hilda Mary, her father Joshua, her brothers James and Joshua Sumner and her sisters, Louisa Lawrence, Elma Van Abshoven, Hilda Goudie, Georgina Parliament and Marjorie Blaze. She is survived by nieces and nephews Robert and William Sumner of Calgary, Mary Chatfield of St. Angelo Texas, Louise McInnes of Toronto, Georgina Sumner and Noelle Friesen of Winnipeg, Judith Main of Edmonton, John Hare of Fleet UK and her cousins Patricia (Betty) Revell of Cambridge UK, and Beryl Hampton of Chippenam UK, as well as numerous grand and great-grand nephews and nieces. Also left to cherish her memory are the McGrath, Holbrow and Love families. A service will be held on Tuesday, June 14 2011 at 2:00 p.m. in St. John's Cathedral, 135 Anderson Avenue, Winnipeg, followed by interment in St. John's cemetery.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 11, 2011