Laura FURTNEY

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FURTNEY - Laura Jane Furtney passed away at the Willow View Personal Care Home in Reston on Friday, July 8, 2011 at the age of 95. She was born on November 30, 1915 to Joseph and Helen (Nellie) Dobbyn. Laura married Kenneth Furtney on October 1, 1938 and together celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary. They had two children to this union, Shirley (Bill) McKinney and Lloyd (Lyn) Furtney. Laura was a member of the Rebekah Lodge which she enjoyed very much, holding many offices over the years. She was also a member of the United Church and started playing the piano for Sunday School when she was fifteen. At that time they had a Sunday School Orchestra and those were memorable times for her. She shared her gift of music over the years whenever she was asked to play for a wedding, a singer, a choir, a celebration or when asked to go to another town as pianist for a funeral. She gave music lessons to several children along with some of her grandchildren. She always enjoyed hearing and playing duets with her grandchildren. Her community service through her music is a great legacy to leave behind. Laura was an active member of the Melita Legion Auxiliary and was very pleased to be asked to play at the Remembrance Day Services as that was a very special time to honour and remember lost loved ones. Laura enjoyed dancing, skating, watching curling, a good ball game and how she loved those high heeled shoes. She was always interested in what her family was doing and was very proud of them. Although Laura had many challenging days after her stroke, she handled them with a positive attitude and a strong faith that made things easy for her family and her caregivers. She was always so grateful and appreciative. A private funeral service was held at the Redpath Funeral Home on July 13, 2011, with Rev Dwight Rutherford officiating and niece Helen Whetter was the organist. Granddaughter Lori Gervin gave memories of Grandma Laura on behalf of the grandchildren and grandson Bryan Furtney played a hymn that he and Grandma Laura had played in church together. Urn bearers were Bryan Furtney and Lori Gervin. Interment took place at the Melita Cemetery for Ken and Laura Furtney. Friends were invited to join the family at a public reception at the United Church CE Building for a time of fellowship. Laura will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her children, daughter Shirley (Bill) McKinney and children Lori (Alton) Gervin, Jeff (Vivianne), Brad (Leslie), Greg (Sheena) and great-grandchildren Kara, George and Krista Gervin, Tyler Robertson, Nakita and KC McKinney; son Lloyd (Lyn) and children Bryan (Nel), Jamie (Heather), Susan Chapman (Rick McKay) and great-grandchildren Olivia and Paige Furtney, Logan and Ethan Furtney and Skye Chapman; sister Gertrude Whetter of Winnipeg; brother Fred (Shirley) Dobbyn of Grande Prairie, AB; sister-in-law Dorothy Dobbyn of Melita, MB; along with many nieces, nephews and friends.

As published in Brandon Sun on Aug 06, 2011