BERTHA (BERT) ELIZABETH BRIDGE (RATHWELL)

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BERTHA (BERT) ELIZABETH BRIDGE (nee RATHWELL) Bertha (Bert) Elizabeth Bridge (nee Rathwell) peacefully passed on Friday, May 6, 2016 at Concordia Hospital. She heard her beloved Doug's trombone playing a familiar tune and has joined him for a dance and a rum. Bert was born February 25, 1925 in Roblin, Manitoba and spent her childhood in Winnipeg. Bert attended Daniel McIntyre Collegiate where she was a gifted athlete and provincial track champion several times over. Bert's passion for sports carried on for many years with her love of golfing (even getting a hole in one), curling, being a Winnipeg Jets season ticket holder and following her grandkids' sporting activities. Bert was predeceased by her husband Douglas in 2015, her sister Evelyn Johnson, her mother Agnes Kirkland, and her father William Rathwell. Bert was a stay at home mom, which was the norm back in the 1960s and early 1970s. Bert kept the home ship shape (including completing all home reno's and repairs herself), upholstering the furniture, outfitting the house in new drapes she made herself, landscaping, mowing the lawn (so colour blind Doug couldn't do it and make a mess of it), there were schedules and calendars to follow, baking to be done, sewing to finish and the next pattern and project to start, lunch at 12:00 noon, dinner at 5:00 p.m., Sunday supper at our house with our grandparents....and of course the Sunday menu always consisted of roast beef, potatoes, peas, carrots, popovers, gravy and don't forget Bert's homemade apple pie with a slice of Velveeta Cheese. It was always "imported" Velveeta Cheese from the USA, that Bert and Doug had purchased on one of their many quick trips to Grand Forks or Fargo....smuggled in the foot well of the family Caprice Classic Woody Station Wagon. In the heat of the summer, Bert could be found in the kitchen late at night canning every type of fruit possible. She made the best canned cherries, peaches and pears and the ultimate strawberry jam that the family enjoyed all winter long. Bert's baking and especially her cookies were a hit with everyone, especially the grandkids and great-grandkids. Even being blind and 91 she was still making sure she had homemade cookies on hand when the grandkids and great-grandkids visited. She would make her "winter cookies" aka shortbread as named by her eldest grandkid Shawn, and leave these cookies in her freezer even though Bert and Doug were going to be away all winter....ensuring grandma always had cookies in her freezer for all to enjoy even when she was not at home. No task or job was too big, Bert pretty much could tackle anything and pretty much did - she was one strong women. Big shoes for us to fill but we'll do our best to make her and Dad proud. Bert and Doug purchased the cabin at Ponemah, Lake Winnipeg Beaches when Janice was only a few months old. The Bridge cabin at Ponemah was always quite the hub of activity for 46 years. When the kids were young Bert did not drive, so each end of school year Doug would drop Bert and all four kids plus usually some friends off at the summer cabin. Bert and the kids basically spent July and August out at the cabin each summer. Those were great carefree summers out at the cabin where there was always an open invitation for friends or family to drop by. Bert and Doug had so many close friends and relatives that spent time out at Ponemah or at nearby beaches, they enjoyed all the great times they had with everyone and treasured those memories. Annual events such as hosting the John Taylor Collegiate annual teachers barbeque, attending the parade and festivities in Gimli for Icelandic Festival or as true Icelanders say Islendingadagurinn which Bert could roll easily off her tongue and then usually a day trip to Hecla and crossing on the ferry for a picnic. All great times and memories. Bert and Doug loved to travel and their travels took them all over the world including extended winter stays in Texas and Vancouver Island. Before settling into Devonshire House in late 2008 they spent summers living in Paradise Village in Ste. Anne and winters down south. It was on their annual winter snow bird treks to Paradise Park in Texas and Parksville on Vancouver Island that long lasting friendships were made to this very day. One of her favourite things while juggling all those things Bert did was to babysit. Bert was the family chief go to babysitter for any of her grandkids. Gladly welcoming all the grandchildren for overnight or longer stays. Bert would plan out all the activities to keep the grandkids from being bored. Whether it was a bike ride, playing card games, skipping stones on the lake or pond, going frogging, a game of bocce or baking cookies, Bert always had the kids "helping stool" ready to go in the kitchen and kept the kids busy. There is peace in knowing Bert and Doug are together again, what an amazing life and love story they had. Their legacy will live on forever through their four children: Janice (Frank), Lorna (Al), Warren (Anna-Marie), Mo (Roman), 11 grandchildren: Shawn (Jenny), Ally (Brad), Mark (Amanda), Kyle (Andrea), and Becky (Garth); Jessica (Matt), Kevin (Kaitlyn), Aaron, Tyler, Lucas, Ethan, and nine great-grandchildren, Cheyenne, Calista, Rylee, Ryan, Grayson, Tenley, Kieran, Kellan and Jensen. The family would like to thank all the staff and Doug and Bert's friends at Devonshire House for your kindness and friendship over the past eight years. Special thank you to Cecilia at the front desk, Deloris for all you did and the girls in the dining room. Mom spoke so highly of all of you and really appreciated all the kindness you showed her. Also thank you home care for taking such good care of Mom since Dad's passing last year. She couldn't have done it without all your loving care over the past year. Respecting Bert's wishes cremation has taken place and a private family gathering will be held to celebrate Bert's life. Flowers are gratefully declined. Bert loved her pets, donations can be made to Winnipeg Humane Society or Manitoba Mutts on her behalf. For those who wish to sign the online Guest Book please visit our website. Chapel Lawn www.chapellawn.ca 204-885-9715

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 14, 2016