MARY ROSE RINGSTROM (LEWIS)

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MARY ROSE RINGSTROM
(née LEWIS)

On July 5, 2020, peacefully at St. Boniface Hospital, Mary Rose Ringstrom (née Lewis) left us.
Born February 22, 1933 in Cardiff, South Wales, third of four children to Dr. Kingsley and Florence Lewis (née Irvine). Mary spent her childhood in Pontypridd.
Mary was the mother of Anna and Carl Ringstrom; mother-in-law to Jim Siemens; granny to Peter, Teilo, Mette and Lucca Siemens. Predeceased by husband Dennis; daughter Elin; siblings, Anne Clark, David Lewis and John Lewis. She also leaves behind her cousins, Angela Parr and Jill Davis in the UK, siblings-in-law, Tom Goodhand, Ollie Sinclair, Diana Ringstrom and Doug Ringstrom, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Mary received her nursing certificate at Charing Cross Hospital, London, in 1959, which was followed by midwifery training at The Maternity Hospital, Cardiff, in 1960. She returned to London to work as an RN, where she met Dennis. They married September 23, 1961 at The Parish Church of St. George the Martyr, located around the corner from Mary's Guilford Street flat, in Bloomsbury.
Mary arrived in Canada for the first time on March 15, 1962, landing at Montreal and continuing on to meet up with Dennis in Winnipeg, where she lived the rest of her life. She worked at St. Boniface Hospital for several years, and, when her children were grown, returned to nursing at Tuxedo Villa.
She was concerned for the well-being of all creatures and her household often included a loyal dog and an indifferent, but pampered, cat. Early in her new life in Canada she returned home from a department store very upset, having witnessed a pair of tropical finches in a very cramped cage, unable to spread their wings. Dennis returned to the store to buy them and Mary did all she could to make their lives more pleasant, although always regretted they had been captured in the wild in the first place. Mary enjoyed bird watching; keeping in touch with family in the UK; gardening, knitting and crocheting; reading biographies; and taking care of other people's pets as though they were her own. Mary enjoyed the company of her Westworth United Church friends and keeping in touch with her Cordova Street neighbours.
For many years she volunteered with Manitoba Riding for the Disabled and donated knitting projects to the USC. Mary and Dennis enjoyed the company of their friends at the Scandinavian Cultural Centre, and often visited for Friday lunch and volunteered during special events.
In accordance with her wishes, Mary's body has been contributed to the Department of Anatomy, University of Manitoba, for the advancement of medicine through anatomical study. No service is planned at this time.
In lieu of flowers, friends may wish to contribute in Mary's memory to the Anatomical Research Fund (U of M); to Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (551 Adelaide Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5V 0N8); Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation, (1028 Arnould Road, Ile des Chênes, Manitoba R0A 0T0); or the animal welfare charity of your choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 18, 2020