ELIZABETH ROWENA MCDOUGALL (MORRIS)

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ELIZABETH ROWENA MCDOUGALL (nee MORRIS) July 10, 1928 - April 23, 2013 Rowena was born in Llanon, Wales, a small seaside village; the seventh of eight children of a Master Mariner who sailed to the Far East and West Indies. She spoke with great love of swimming in the ocean and sitting on the beach with her sisters and friends. We were all interested in her stories of the rustic life she had with no electricity; on some rare, cold mornings she would wake up to a frozen glass of water at her bedside. As a teenager during the war, she experienced food rationing and black outs in the village, as well as bomb raids in London when she was visiting her sisters, Molly and Nancy. Rowena trained as a teacher and worked a few years in Wales, before traveling to Canada with her sister Sarah. They both initially got jobs at Woolworth's in Toronto before getting teaching positions in North Ontario where Rowena met the love of her life, Peter McDougall. Peter and Rowena moved to Sudbury, then to Thompson, where they raised their four children. Rowena loved music and soon after their marriage, they bought a piano, which all the kids learned to play. She worked at the Thompson Library for many years in keeping with her love of reading, which she passed on to all her children. In spite of developing rheumatoid arthritis, Rowena was as active as possible and had a cheerful, optimistic outlook on life. She enjoyed the sunshine and spent many hours outdoors enjoying its warmth. Mom encouraged academic pursuits and physical activity including skiing, skating, hockey, cycling, swimming and ballet, with a lot of support from Dad. Bread making on Sunday was a regular routine at home, and the cinnamon buns on Sunday evening were a special treat. Rowena went back to the UK several times and always loved connecting with her family there. Regular phone calls and letters allowed her to maintain those relationships which were so important to her. Rowena's greatest love was her family. Upon the birth of her first grandchild, she would travel to Winnipeg by bus for visits, and she (and Dad) would visit the grandchildren in Prince George, BC and Calgary, AB when possible. On retirement, Mom and Dad moved to Winnipeg, regularly travelling to Mesa, Arizona as well as trips to the Caribbean and Hawaii. Predeceased by her husband, Peter, brothers, Danny, Austin, David and Lewis, and sister, Nancy. The family would like to thank the staff at Simkin Centre for their exceptional and compassionate care, special thanks to Jane, Dr. Chung, Genny, and to companions Melba and Mabrat. Rowena will be dearly missed by her children, Molly, Dave (Brenda), Jean (Jeff), and Sandra (Colin), and grandchildren, Don (Courtney), Robert, Kelly (Andrew), Jessie, Rob, Jackie and Sian. In keeping with her wishes, a private family service will be held and interment at Glen Lawn Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may donate to the Arthritis Society or the Humane Society. Family and friends may sign a Book of Condolence at www.glenlawn.ca GLEN LAWN FUNERAL HOME 982-7550

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 27, 2013