LAURA ETHEL GARDNER

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LAURA ETHEL GARDNER (nee SPARLING) October 21, 1924 - July 3, 2017 Peacefully, with family by her side, Laura Gardner passed away at Grace General Hospital, at the age of 92 years. Laura is survived by her children, Bill (Janine), Anne, and Michael (Lynn); and her grandchildren, Will, Rachael (Daniel), and Leah (Evan) Gardner; Simon (Amy) and Michael (Nikki) Holekamp, and Ben (Cossette) Gardner. Laura was born at 70 Niagara, in 1924, youngest daughter of Fritz and Gratia Sparling. Growing up she developed an interest in anatomy, tutored by her older brother Fred who taught her how to dissect frogs and fillet fish. This led to an interest in a career in medicine but she was talked out of it by Fred, who did not want her to take a position away from a man. She contented herself with dealing effectively with various childhood illnesses of her children, and then consulting with friends at their doctor's visits. Laura married William Cooper Gardner on July 3, 1947 and together they lived an ideal marriage until William's death, November 20, 2003. She made a wonderful home for her children, who treasured the fact that she was always there when they came home from school. Laura loved to organize and entertain, and used her considerable social skills to set up early versions of gala fundraising dinners. She was a major player in the 1967 Pan Am Games and was very proud to take one of the flagpoles from the Games to her cottage in Minaki. Also in 1967, she was in charge of hospitality during the federal leadership campaign of former Manitoba Premier Duff Roblin. Her role was considered so important that she was given a pager (one of the earliest portable communication devices). The lake cottage "Anti-Mat" in Minaki was a central part of her life. With her sister, Lois, she gave her children idyllic summers. She taught generations of kids how to swim, how to waterski, how to fillet fish, in short, how to be lake people. In later years she was the undisputed matriarch of the lake. Laura made and kept legions of friends who knew her for her sense of humour and generosity of spirit. If Laura was your friend, you were lucky indeed and she would always come to the aid of a friend in trouble. She attracted legions of young people with her welcoming spirit and many of them came to regard her as their second mother. Her kindness and compassion knew no bounds... well, perhaps one bound - if you were playing bridge. A memorial service will be held at St. George's Anglican Church, Grosvenor Avenue at Wilton Street, Monday, July 31 at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations would be welcome to St. George's Anglican Church, 168 Wilton Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3M 3C3. "Do not mourn me but celebrate my time with you; to do otherwise would be a crashing bore." Arrangements by Neil Bardal Funeral Centre, 3030 Notre Dame Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3H 1B9.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 08, 2017