HILDA IRENE CANN

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HILDA IRENE CANN Peacefully, after a short illness, Hilda Irene Cann (nee Blank) passed away on February 22, 2012 at Central Okanagan Hospice House, Kelowna, BC. Hilda was born on May 23, 1909 in Carman, Manitoba. She graduated as a Registered Nurse from the Carman Hospital in 1931. Hilda nursed at the Brandon Mental Hospital and the prestigious Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. She married Harry Alexander (Buster) Cann in May 1940 at Westminster United Church in Winnipeg. Hilda successfully enlisted as a surgical nurse/2nd Lieutenant with the U.S. Army Nursing Corps and was shipped to England with the 155th General Hospital. After the war, she decided to devote her time to being a full-time mother and homemaker in Edmonton, Montreal and Winnipeg. Upon Buster's retirement from Uniroyal, the happy couple maintained residences in Sandy Hook, MB, Harlingen, TX, and Penticton before settling in Kelowna. Hilda is lovingly remembered by her son Bill and wife Dorothy Young of Winnipeg; son Barry and wife Diane of Calgary; grandchildren Camille, Michelle, Steven and wife Donna Marie, and Nicole; great-grandchildren Ryan, Garret and Rylan; cousins Don and Ellie, and special friends Kay, Earl and Helen. Hilda was predeceased by her loving husband of 48 years, Buster in 1989; her father John Blank; mother Effie; brothers Austin, Lawrence and Floyd; sisters Eva Schwab, Linda Bowden, Eileen Pritchard and Freda Renaud. Hilda is also remembered by many other family members and friends. Thank you cannot begin to express the family's gratitude to the wonderful staff and dear friends at Missionwood Retirement Resort for making the last six and a half years of Hilda's life so enjoyable. To the amazing staff and volunteers of the Central Okanagan Hospice House, the ladies from We Care and Interior Health's Palliative Care service, our sincere thanks for exceeding our care expectations. A celebration of Hilda's life will be held at Missionwood Retirement Resort, 1075 Barnes Ave., Kelowna, BC at a date to be determined in March, 2012. A family interment service will follow at Chapel Lawn Funeral Home, 4000 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Central Okanagan Hospice House, 2035 Ethel Street, Kelowna, BC V1Y 2Z6.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 24, 2012