Gwen BLAKE

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BLAKE: It is with deep sadness and a profound sense of loss that we mourn the sudden passing of our beautiful mother H. Gwen Blake (nee Bergman). Gwen died peacefully on the evening of Tues, Nov 17, 2009 surrounded by her children and the music she loved. As the first born child of Otto and Georgina (Dodie) Bergman, Gwen was born in Winnipeg on July 1, 1930. Otto and Georgina’s families both emmigrated from Reykjavik, Iceland. Otto pioneered the opening of the Royal Bank of Canada in Flin Flon, Manitoba in 1929 and the family established themselves as vital members of the community. Gwen grew up in Flin Flon graduating from FFCI in 1947. She loved theatre actively participating in the drama club to great reviews. She worked at the local pharmacy, was involved in numerous community events and in 1951, the inaugural year of the Flin Flon Trout Festival, was crowned the festival’s first Beauty Queen. This occurred in 1951 during her two year engagement to David Blake whom she met at the bank. They wed on August 16, 1951 following Dave’s transfer to The Pas. Both Gwen and Dave loved the North and continued to spend summers at the family cabin on Lake Athapapaskow as their family grew. Life as a bank manager’s wife required Gwen to adapt and embrace change as they lived in many communities in the province. Gwen was a wonderful mother. Naomi Karen was born in Flin Flon, Kelly Elizabeth in Winnipeg, William Darren in Glenboro, Colleen Marie & Christopher David in Selkirk. The bank then took the family to Swan River and finally to Minnedosa where she resided for the rest of her life. Gwen worked periodically when the demands of motherhood and her community work allowed. She was in administration at the Selkirk General Hospital, enjoyed her time at Minnedosa Furniture and with a love of all things beautiful, in 1979 opened Blake Jeweller’s. She was active for many years in Beta Sigma Phi and was in line once again to assume the position of Worthy Grand Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star, an organization very dear to her heart. Gwen was also involved with the Minnedosa Christmas Cheer Board for well over 20 years, acting as chair for a great many of them. She loved to give back. Her love of reading took her around the world but she cherished the personal experience of travelling to the UK, Europe, Iceland, three coasts of Canada, winter time in Arizona, Texas and Florida and many summers on Cape Cod. She is predeceased by her parents, her brother Maurice, her sister Joan, her infant son Jamie and more recently her husband David. She leaves to cherish her memory, her daughters Naomi (Garry), Kelly (Marguerite), Colleen (Leonard) and sons Darren and Christopher (Lisa), 4 grandchildren Jordan (19), Dylan (18), Kirsten (18) and Sam (14), her brother Paul (Cheryl) and numerous nieces and nephews. The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to all of the staff at the Minnedosa General Hospital for their kindness, respect and exceptional care and also to the staff of the Minnedosa Funeral Service and Pastor Elgin Hall for helping us through this difficult times on so many ways. A celebration of Gwen’s life was held on Saturday, November 21st with a private family interment the next day. Donations in Gwen’s memory may be made to the Minnedosa Palliative Care Service or the Heart & Stroke Foundation.

As published in Brandon Sun on Nov 25, 2009