ELEANOR SIGURDSON WILSON

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ELEANOR SIGURDSON WILSON March 11, 1924 - September 1, 2016 Mrs. Henry B. Wilson, of Baltimore, Maryland, US, passed in her sleep after progressive illness, at age 92. Eleanor, born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, kept her good humour intact and vibrant, to all a smiling countenance, despite physical adversities and as always giving to and concerned for others, and appreciative of life, left this world ready and embracing both family and The Almighty. Exiting while napping, minutes after warmly holding great-grandkids, and smiling when overhearing the sharing of stories by grandchildren, children and husband. She was graced with the opportunity to go quietly. Eleanor being the essence of humility and helping others, almost by design (some disagree: "She always acted with Design"), elegantly bowing her Curtain Call, entailing a minimum of fanfare that might burden her close ones. When asked, "What can be done to make you comfortable?" She was perplexed by the question, searching for how she might help you. She was born Eleanor Gudrun Halla Sigurdson, of Gudni Halldor and Kristin Wilhelmine Sigurdson. Eleanor was, and is perhaps remembered better as "El" or "Siggy" by friends, classmates and relatives who knew her in her pre-married days. After school in Lord Roberts, Kelvin High, she graduated in 1946, an RN in Ob/Gyn from Winnipeg General Hospital School of Nursing. She worked as a youth during the summers and harvest as farm hand on Uncle Archie Johnson's farm in Langruth, MB; a child's shoe clerk in Eaton's; a novice nurse in Chicago, back to nursing in Winnipeg, and after "El" learned the ropes she was invited to The Margaret Hague Maternity Hospital in the eye opening environs of New York City (Jersey City / Hoboken, NJ). And due to her outstanding abilities (an Ob/Gyn "Florence Nightingale") "Siggy" became Head Nurse in Ob/Gyn at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. After marriage Eleanor Sigurdson became Mrs. Henry B. (Sigurdson) Wilson, tying the knot with a fun-loving but committed family man, a fellow Hopkins caregiver, a Wilmer "Eye Man" (Opthalmogist). Harry took his bride on a Bermuda honeymoon and then with the next breath, to Alaska, where they experienced the unforgettable, and introduced two, together they managed, going without sleep and Harry learned to safety pin and diaper. After two years of discovering the vagaries of child raising, life in the Air Force, climbing on glaciers, avoiding grizzly bears; encountering the Alaskan run of the mill: leaping Salmon, soaring Bald Eagles, tasty Red King Crab, shimmering Aurora Borealis, splashing Porpoise and Killer Whales, near-sighted and dangerous Moose cows, and exorbitant $3 plus milk. After two years, Harry and Eleanor returned to mundane Baltimore. Together they were, uproariously blessed with a total of seven. The Wilson "Tribe" namely are: Henry (Chaim) Beatty (Barbara) Wilson, Jr.; Lindsey Elizabeth (Wilson) (Dennis) Minchella; Robert Douglas (Michelle) Wilson; Kristin Angela (Wilson) (Carl Lee) Friant; Jennifer Louise (Wilson) (Rick) Nelson; Hilary Brooke (Wilson) (John) Cosby; and Eleanor Anne (Wilson) (Tom) Derenge; 13 grandchildren: Daniel Minchella; Peter Minchella; Lucas Wilson; Amanda Friant; Kendall (Friant) Gelston; Eric Friant; Kevin Friant; Darby Nelson; Rickie Nelson; Sean Nelson; Ellie Cosby; Sam Cosby; and Will Cosby; and (but not least) five great-grandchildren! In addition to being cast as Harry's better half, and mothering "The Gang of 7", Eleanor's Icelandic upbringing value of give to others led to volunteer activities: Cub Scout Den Mother; Brownie Scout Leader; Chairwoman of PTA, and Chairwoman of the annual fund raiser, the "May Mart" at Roland Park Elementary and Junior High Public School; Member, President, of Women's Civic League and annual volunteer for "Crab Cake" Booth at Civic League city wide "Flower Mart"; volunteer Door-to-Door "Rep" American Cancer Society, American Lung Association and American Kidney Foundation; volunteer driver and distributor for the local family/school Food Co-op and Meals-On-Wheels. Eleanor's interests: gardening; knitting; attending Eugene Ormandy and The Philadelphia Philharmonic at The Lyric and Baltimore Symphony at Meyerhoff Center; Center Stage Repertory Theatre; writing poetry for birthdays and reading/teaching poetry to her kids; reading daily "Erma Bombeck" and "Ann Landers" and the comic strips, especially Lynn Johnston's "For Better or for Worse", family activities (e.g. trips to Winnipeg and Bembe's Beach, enabling opportunities, projects and adventures for her brood and neighbouring children (e.g. carpooling, taking groups to The Lyric's Travelogues, activities such as gymnastics, and piano lessons, art activities at BMA, etc.) hearing laughter, travelling, sharing humour and socializing with all who were unpretentious. Family who predeceased Eleanor: father Gudni Halldor Sigurdson, mother Kristin Wilhelmine Sigurdson, sister Doreen (Mrs. Harry) Kabernagle, and brother Leonard Sigurdson. Eleanor would not forgive me if I failed to mention (the late) Dorothy Edwards (nominally the Afro-American weekly house helper, for 30+ years, who tirelessly defrayed Mom's workload; but Dorothy was much more: a truly close friend, part mother to us seven kids, quasi-adopted relative, and source of solace). She is survived by brother Dennis Sigurdson, and Dennis's wife Barbara Sigurdson of Winnipeg, sister-in-law Mary (Mrs. Leonard) Sigurdson of Winnipeg; and also brother-in-law Harry Kabernagle (Doreen's husband) of Westminster, MD. Friends and trench vets; from her volunteering, relatives, neighbours, and fellow school chums, workmates, and hospital auxiliary; (e.g. Laura Curran, Ilsa Harrup, Vickie Davis, et al. [I am at a loss to name her many friends and apologize if unintentionally I slighted any of Eleanor's confidants! Eleanor's places of residence: 767 Jubilee Ave., Winnipeg; "The Hen House" (a shared, of the yet single, women's house in Baltimore); Fort Richardson, Anchorage Alaska; 431 Kenneth Square, Baltimore, MD; "The Shore" at Bembe's Beach, Annapolis, MD; 5 Club Road, Baltimore, MD; Oakcrest Community, White Marsh, MD. Her organs were donated to Medical Research. thus: no public funeral. Her daughters are designing a Flower Garden, to be dedicated to the memory of Mom at the family's beloved "The Shore" on Bembe's Beach: "Amma's Garden!" (Annapolis, MD). Memorial contributions or donations may be made to: Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and charities she collected for (e.g. American Lung Association, American Cancer Association, American Kidney Foundation) or their Canadian counterparts. Eleanor's favourite poem: Robert Frost's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening"; other favourites were by Frost or any work by Dr. Suess; favourite singer: Rolf Harris ("Waltzing Matilda"); favourite playwright: William Shakespeare; favourite book: Anne of Green Gables: favourite flowers; yellow roses or Clematis (perhaps she repeatedly saved them from being pruned as weeds), Her well known remedy for Red Lights: "Please and thank you, 1-2-3, please turn green!" (said in unison by all in the car); each night's "Tuck-In": "Utla Note, Sutha Rote" ( Icelandic for "Good Night, Sweet Dreams")

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 17, 2016