MONA ROSAMUND MCCAWLEY

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MONA ROSAMUND MCCAWLEY August 23, 1925 - December 30, 2017 On Saturday, December 30, 2017 Mona passed away peacefully at West Park Manor. She is survived by her four children, Deborah (Otto Lang), Susan (Dennis Hewitt), Leslie (Harry Jung) and Casey (Tracey Kennedy-McCawley), and grandchildren Andrew and Rebecca Parkinson, Laura Bartley and Alexandra and Quinn McCawley. Mona was born in Assiniboia, Saskatchewan and was always proud of her Saskatchewan roots. She lost her father, a decorated First World War veteran who fought at Passchendaele, at age 14. After graduating from high school at 15, she moved to Winnipeg with her mother and went to Business College and then worked for United Grain Growers until she met the love of her life, James Comrie McCawley. She was fond of saying they fell in love instantly. Indeed, they were married after a three month courtship. She devoted the next 60 years of her life to supporting her beloved Com in his medical career and raising a family. Vibrant, energetic and independent minded, Mona was devoted to her family. She was an accomplished and adventurous cook, and friends and family happily enjoyed the exotic dishes she made as she cooked her way through the Time Life Cookbook series. She loved to entertain, which she made look effortless, despite four children, a Labrador and various well-loved cats perpetually underfoot. She was also devoted to her community, trooping puppets with The Junior League and volunteering with The White Cross Guild, the YWCA and Fort Garry United Church, of which she was a lifelong member. A passionate lover of music and art, she was a strong supporter of the Women's Musical Club and spent many rewarding hours as a volunteer in Art Rental at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. Politically active throughout much of her life, there was never any doubt about what her views were, which made for interesting discussions at the dinner table. For Mona, learning was a lifelong pursuit. She was a voracious reader and, although her children tried to persuade her to go to university with them, she was content to type their papers and was an exacting editor and grammarian. She also enjoyed presenting her own meticulously researched papers on interesting and obscure artists to her art study group which she did well into her 80s. Mona loved tennis and socializing with her "tennis ladies" who were a special part of her very wide circle of friends. But her happiest times were spent at the family cottage at Sandy Bay on Lake Winnipeg with her children and grandchildren and friends who were always welcome. She especially loved the sun, sand and walks to "the point". The family would like to say an especial thanks to the many dedicated staff at West Park Manor for their kindness, care and compassion throughout Mona's time there. Cremation has taken place and will be followed by a private family service at a later time. If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, a donation in her memory to the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba, 120 Donald St., Winnipeg MB R3C 4G2, www.alzheimer.mb.ca, or to a charity of one's choice, would be appreciated.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 04, 2018