HELEN YVONNE DORLAND (ALEXANDER) (TANNY)

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HELEN YVONNE DORLAND (nee ALEXANDER) (TANNY) On Sunday September 21, 2014 in her 70th year, after a brief illness, Mom, known to all as Tanny, passed away peacefully with her children, family and her closest friends at her side. Mom was born at Pine Falls, Manitoba on June 22, 1944 to Ralph and Marguerite Alexander and resided most of her life at Sagkeeng; she resided at Vancouver for a number of years before returning home to Sagkeeng to be close to her family. During her childhood mom attended the Fort Alexander residential school and attained the skills necessary to be a very talented seamstress. Aside from her parents, mom was predeceased by her siblings, Sarah, Harriet, Leona-Pearl, Loui, Richard, Harvey, Lorraine (She-Sheep), John, Ralph Jr. (T-Ball), along with her son-in-law Larry Courchene. Left to mourn her loss are her brother Percy (Rose) and her sister Leona Sinclair. As well as her children, John "DC" (Samantha), Phyllis (the late Larry Courchene), Kenneth (Wanda), Tony, Gregory (Vanessa) and Cathy along with her numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and her many nieces and nephews all of whom had the privilege to know and love their "Granny". She will be sadly missed by all who knew her including extended family, her many cousins and numerous friends. She married Greg Dorland Sr. in 1975 and though they did not remain together, their love for one other remained to their respective last days. Mom had many hobbies and interests, she loved to bake, had a green thumb and enjoyed gardening, but she was best known for her skills with a sewing machine often creating beautiful clothes and other items. Mom and her cousin Marie Sinclair (Mayshee) operated a sewing company where they had the privilege to teach many community members the art of making star blankets. Mom loved life and loved to laugh, she enjoyed entertaining and visiting, always making time for anyone that would stop by. She loved good ol' toe tapping music and a cold beer with her closest "chums" and family such as; Uncle Sylvester (wendigo) and Carrie, Dennis Guimond (ChiBoy) and her best friends, Alma Bruyere and Rita Guimond, mom had so many close friends too numerous to mention all of whom are now welcoming her home in heaven. She was proud of her Anishinabe roots and enjoyed hearing stories and telling jokes in the language. Mom was always ready to help in any way she could without expecting anything in return, often seen baking and cooking tirelessly for other families going through the loss of a loved one, taking over the kitchen just so that family could mourn their own loss. Wake service will take place commencing on Tuesday, September 23, 2014 at St. Alexander Parish, Sagkeeng, MB, followed by the funeral service held on Friday, September 26, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. Father Augustine Ezediniru officiating. Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Gillis Alexander, Kenny McKay, Quinn Guimond, Cameron Dorland, Gaige Alexander and Jade Alexander. Funeral arrangements entrusted to; Personal Funeral Services Rock Fontaine Funeral Director Honour-Respect-Dignity in Winnipeg 204-223-2576 or toll free 1-866-499-2601

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 24, 2014