Gladys FLEMING

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FLEMING: Gladys May Fleming (Barefoot) passed away on April 6, 2012 at the Tri Lake Health Centre in Killarney with family at her side. Mom was predeceased by her husband Robert (Bob) in 2000, her sister Marguerite Wedlake in 2003 and son-in-law Alex Willim in 2010. She is survived by her children: Marjorie (Jim) Hawkins of Milton, Ontario, Robert (Bert) and Roberta (Bobbie) Fleming of Brandon, Louise (Jack) Pinkerton of Killarney, Cheryl Willim of Winnipeg; six grandchildren: Jason (Katrina) Fleming, Clint (Nicole) Fleming, Twyla (Rusty) Ayoungman, Nikki (Scott) McMillan, Christy (John) Cherwinski, Steven (Nicole) Willim;seven great grandchildren: Fiona, Kieran and Rosheen Fleming, Elizabeth and Gabrielle Ayoungman, Samantha and Carly Fleming; brothers-in-law Frank Wedlake and John Fleming; plus numerous nieces & nephews. Mom was born on the family farm at Croll on January 7, 1921 to Edgar & Nellie Barefoot. She attended elementary school at Croll and high school in Boissevain. In 1942 she started work as a telephone operator for the Manitoba Telephone System. She was Chief Operator in 1944 when she married Bob Fleming. Mom & Dad farmed in the Minto area until 1957 when they moved to Boissevain where they farmed until they retired to Killarney in 1991. Her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews were the highlight of her life and she loved to celebrate the special events in their lives. She was so happy to see and hold her most recent great granddaughter, Carly, born March 20, 2012. She had a wall of family pictures at her apartment some of which were transferred to her hospital room where she could see her babies everyday. To Mom, family was all important and she loved family gatherings, both large and small, throughout their married life. For many years the family would gather at the farm in Boissevain on the August long weekend and later this tradition continued at Bert & Bobbie’s in Brandon. Two events she really enjoyed were their 50th wedding anniversary party in 1994 and her 90th birthday celebration in 2011. The memory of these two events were revisited many times with family and friends. Mom loved to bake, with her bread, buns and cookies always being family favorites. One of Mom’s special gifts was her enjoyment of children, be it baking cookies, doing crafts or just playing with them. She also enjoyed gardening and growing flowers, a passion she continued at her apartment in Killarney, maintaining outdoor flower beds and a front window full of plants. The Thursday Adult Day Program provided her with many enjoyable outings. At age 80, she accepted a new challenge, the Hospital Auxiliary. Mom was always active in the church, most recently in the Killarney United Church, the UCW and the Tuesday Bible study group. Her faith guided her life and kept her strong. She always thought of others before herself, looked at life with a positive attitude and made the best of every situation. She lived a long and happy life which she shared with family and friends. She will be greatly missed and will be forever kept in our hearts. Funeral services will be held at the Killarney United Church on Saturday, April 14, 2012 at 1:30pm with internment at Minto Cemetery at 4:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers donations in memory of Gladys may be made to the Society for Manitobans with Disabilities; 825 Sherbrook Street Winnipeg, MB R3A 1M5 or Killarney United Church; Killarney, Manitoba. Messages of condolence may be made online at www.wheatlandfs.com.Killarney & Boissevain Funeral Home Ltd. (204) 523-7791 www.wheatlandfs.com

As published in Brandon Sun on Apr 10, 2012