GERMAINE M. DUBREUIL (GERRY) (VINCK)

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GERMAINE M. DUBREUIL (GERRY) (nee VINCK) Peacefully, on Sunday, October 16, 2011 at the St. Boniface Hospital, Germaine passed away at the age of 93 years. Germaine was predeceased by her husband Aimé (Pete) in 1979 and by all of his brothers and sisters and all the in-laws on dad's side. Mom was predeceased by all her siblings, Clement (Cecile), John (Zelia), Mary (Albert Nicolay), Arsene and Maurice. She leaves sisters-in-law Aline (Arsene) and Elise (Maurice). Gerry is survived by her loving and devoted sons: Maurice, Marcel and Edouard. Mom was born , the second daughter and fifth child in what would be a family of six children on July 16, 1918, in Grande Clairière, MB, to Désiré Vinck and Jeanne Bastin, immigrants to the area. In the late 1930s she left the farm for the bright lights of Winnipeg and various employments till she headed east and ultimately made her way to Fort William, ON. There she worked as a welder in a factory creating equipment to sustain our war effort. More importantly, that's where she met dad, and in 1945 they returned to Winnipeg and were married. Grandmother suffered a stroke and became paralyzed shortly after, and the task fell to mom to care for her. With our arrivals from 1947 to 1951, and a house under construction mom certainly had her hands full. She always found time, however, for volunteer work in the community, school and church and fully supported the activities of her growing family. With her children almost out of high school, the opening of a new Kmart store in the region, in 1966, heralded a new opportunity to go back to work. An extremely sociable spirit, her clerking position fit her to a T . Mom loved her job at Kmart, and the people she worked with. She retired as Furniture Manager in 1986. Her love of people, and especially children, gave mom immense pleasure. Over the years, mom cared for a great many children, even doing so, ever so happily, following her retirement from Kmart... She needed something to do . Mom's culinary expertise was unparalleled...she baked and cooked till the last several months, and always at top speed; it was as if she thought she could sneak another hour or so into that 24-hour day. Mom never ceased to support our efforts - in sports, in school and later, in our personal lives. But we always remained The Boys, and Ed, though he squirmed at the thought, was often introduced as The Baby of the family. Over the last few years, mom struggled with memory loss and decreasing physical abilities but she always had a smile at the moment. The anguish for us all was great when she finally had to be hospitalized and her condition was clearly serious. She could not have been in better hands, the Lord's and the staff's at St. Boniface Hospital Your Boys will miss you so very much, Mom! Keep an eye on us. On t'aime bien gros, maman! A special thank you to all who cared for mom, to those who visited her during her final days, and to the staff of St. Boniface Hospital for their care and attention given to Mom the past five weeks. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, October 22, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at Précieux Sang R.C. Church. Viewing will be held a half hour. prior to the service. Interment will follow at Green Acres Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers please make all donations to: Projet Précieux Sang, 200, rue Kenny, St. Boniface, MB, R2H 2E4. Always Remembered, Always Loved DESJARDINS 233-4949 1-888-233-4949

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 20, 2011