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CLAIRE (CLARA) ELIZABETH DARVILL
Date of Passing: Jun 18, 2019
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CLAIRE (CLARA) ELIZABETH DARVILL
1943 - 2019
Claire was predeceased by her parents, Henry and Helen Dyck; and her sisters, Mary Froese, Helen Giesbrecht, Doris Friesen and Agnes Grant.
Left to remember her are her sons, Dennis (Janet), Douglas (Annabela) and Sean (Patty); grandchildren, Leah, Amber, Jeremy, Zak, Alison (Bryan) and Kasydi (Tory); great-grandchildren, Beau, Dean, Colt and Aurora; sister Margaret (Hockett); sister-in-law Kathy (Neil) Darvill; brothers-in-law, David Darvill and Donald (Laurie) Darvill and their daughters, Shannon and Leanne, as well as many nieces and nephews and their children.
Claire was born in Rabbit Lake, Saskatchewan in 1943. She grew up on a farm at Medstead, SK, and attended Daylight and Medstead schools. She dearly loved the animals on the farm and spent many happy hours riding horses and exploring the woods and meadows. At the age of 15 she moved to Winnipeg due to her father's illness. Here she graduated from Daniel McIntyre Institute Collegiate. She was one of the original part time staff when the new Simpsons Sears store opened at Polo Park.
Claire married Michael William Darvill in 1961. They were blessed with three sons, Dennis, Douglas and Sean. After a brief stay in Montreal they returned to Winnipeg, settling in St. Charles. Claire began teaching upon their return to Winnipeg, and earned her B.A., B. Ed., and M. Ed. from the University of Manitoba. She taught in the Winnipeg School Division for 19 years, working in the primary grades and special education. In 1992 she was appointed vice-principal at Sister MacNamara School. Four years later she became principal of Pinkham School, and remained there until retirement in 2003. Upon retirement she worked as faculty supervisor of student teachers for the University of Winnipeg. Throughout her educational career Claire was committed to providing quality learning opportunities for young children. She constantly sought to learn and apply progressive teaching / learning methods. As an administrator she devoted many hours to fostering parent involvement in school, and to encourage parents to keep their children in one stable school community.
Claire approached life with energy and commitment. She always treasured memories of the years spent driving to kid's hockey games and watching the boys play. Golfing, biking, walking and reading were favourite pastimes at the cottage at Victoria Beach. She greatly enjoyed having the family come to the lake, and loved having the grandchildren spend vacation time at the cottage. After her retirement Claire continued to work with children, volunteering in an elementary school, and tutoring, she particularly cherished reading books with her grandchildren. In later years she discovered the rewards of volunteering at the 55+ Centre.
Memorial service will be held on Friday, June 28, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at Chapel Lawn Funeral Home, 4000 Portage Avenue.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation.
For those who wish to sign the online Guest
Book please visit www.chapellawn.ca
Chapel Lawn Funeral Home & Cemetery
by Arbor Memorial
204-885-9715
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 22, 2019
Condolences & Memories (3 entries)
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Sorry to read of Claire's passing. I enjoyed playing with her and her sisters when they and their parents visited my grandparents, Jacob Kornelius Martens and Elisabeth Peters Martens near Loreburn, Saskatchewan. Claire's mother Helena Peters Dyck and my grandmother Elisabeth were sisters. - Posted by: Elma (Martens) Schemenauer (Second cousin) on: Jul 30, 2019
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All my life Claire has been the cheerful ray of friendship even though we have lived a province apart. She loved playing Scrabble and we shared some memorable laughter in Saskatchewan around a winter blizzard night when she came to stay. Her twins Doug and Dennis and their wee brother Sean on my handlebars, along with me and my brother Ken would venture on long bike-rides to Sturgeon Creek together. Happiest of all days! In her later years I told her she was my monarch butterfly; everytime one passed by me, I thought.. and still do think of her. She wore a monarch emblem on her jacket. And so for you dear Claire across the distant miles but always close in heart: "We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty." Maya Angelou - Posted by: Charlotte (Friesen) Collins (Niece) on: Jun 29, 2019
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Claire hired me as a part-time Teacher-Librarian when she was the Principal of Pinkham School. She was a very helpful, knowledgable principal who taught me a lot! She also went along with a few of my new and different (kooky!) ideas. She loved her young students and always enjoyed sharing in fun activities with the kids. Years later we met again at the beach and sometimes rode back & forth to the bakery together. - Posted by: Wendy Winslow (Co-worker at Pinkham School) on: Jun 22, 2019
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