MAY STEWART

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MAY STEWART On Saturday, October 10, 2015, surrounded by Button and her family, Mom passed peacefully following a brief illness which she fought with courage, strength and dignity. We lost a caring Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, but Heaven gained a beautiful angel. Mom was predeceased by her husband Bob in 2001, and is survived by son Tom and wife Lorraine, grandchildren Jillian and Lauren and great-grandchildren Emma and Logan, son David and wife Lesley, grandchildren Heather (Jonathan), Kevin (Julie) and great-grandson Levi, daughter Laura and husband Tom, grandchildren Tamara (Jon), Dylan (Charlsey) and great-grandson Koi, daughter Sue and husband Rick, stepson Mark and wife Donna and grandchildren Nicole (Jeff), Mark Jr. and great- grandsons Brodie and Connor. May was born in Winnipeg, March 27, 1928. As a child and young adult she enjoyed time spent at Victoria Beach. Later the cottage at Bird Lake became her favourite place to be with family. We all have wonderful memories of time spent at this beautiful place, and thank Mom for the love and planning she put into making it special for each of us. In 1983, Mom and Dad moved to Ladysmith, Vancouver Island. Unfortunately Dad was seriously injured just three years later, but Mom readily accepted her new role and cared for him with incredible compassion and dedication. Those years are truly a testament to Mom as their lives remained full and rewarding despite the challenges of Dad's handicap. After Dad passed away, Mom wrote yet another chapter of her story. With so much yet to live, and so much left to give, she embraced her church community in Ladysmith, and was active in several committees, groups, and choir, and made numerous banners for the church. She was involved with Meals on Wheels, Kindred Spirits, and the Ladysmith Seniors Centre. She sewed cushions for Breast Cancer Patients, and knit hundreds of nursery toques for newborns at several Island Hospitals. But it was quilting that became her true passion and her goal was to make a personalized quilt for each of her children and grandchildren. The last quilt was finished just a couple of weeks ago for Baby May who will be born in October. Mom has a small framed picture on the wall at the lake. It reads: "Families are like quilts - pieced with memories, bound with love". Despite such a full life, in the years after Dad passed away we sensed that Mom needed a companion, and convinced her to adopt a little black puppy she named "Button". Inseparable from the start he has been her faithful companion and soul mate. Together they brought smiles to many faces. Throughout her illness, Button never left her side. A memorial service will be held at Ladysmith United Church on Thursday, November 12 at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family would gratefully appreciate any donations made to Victoria Hospice (VictoriaHospice.org) or the Winnipeg Humane Society.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 17, 2015