Beryl ARMSTRONG

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ARMSTRONG: It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of The Rev’d Beryl Sylvia Armstrong at the age of 85 in the Seven Oaks Hospital, Winnipeg on October 6th, 2012. Beryl is predeceased by her husband (Murray), her father (Cecil), her stepmother (Nancy) and her mother (Alice). Left to cherish Beryl’s memory is her daughter (Gail), son (Martin), grandchildren (Steven, Alison, Joshua, Zoe and Chelsy), sister-in-law (Clair) and numerous cousins. Beryl was born, September 24, 1927, and raised in an English community of Thornton Heath Surrey, England. After extensive training in England as a Physiotherapist, decided to accept a position as head of the Physiotherapy Department at the Yorkton Union Hospital in Yorkton Saskatchewan in 1963. She later met Murray while actively pursuing her passion in bowling. They found much in common including growing up in the same era as they were only 22 days apart from each other. As their friendship grew they discovered they had experienced similar encounters and so understood one another. They married on July 31, 1965. They have two children Martin and Gail. In 1976, Beryl moved with her family to Brandon Manitoba as her husband (Murray) accepted a position as Assistant Parts Manager at Murray Chev Olds. Soon after the move, she began to feel a calling into a pastoral care field, which grew stronger over the years. She became a member of the Order of St. Luke and felt a need to visit patients in a Hospital setting. In 1981, Bishop John Conlin commissioned Beryl as a Lay Hospital Chaplin for the Diocese of Brandon. She took extensive courses in healing and counseling. Later, Beryl was ordained Deacon and then became one of the first women priests to be ordained in the Brandon Diocese. Beryl’s primary passion was visiting the sick in hospital. She ultimately became the Anglican Hospital Chaplin for the Diocese of Brandon while serving as Honorary Assistants at St. Matthews Cathedral and St. Mary’s Anglican Church. This took her many places until retirement some years later. She then helped her husband extensively work on both family trees and went on numerous trips across Canada and England. In 2010, Beryl and her husband moved to Winnipeg in the hope to enjoy the rest of their retirement. Beryl was able to enjoy many conversations while watching the funny show with her grandchild Zoe and was extremely excited to meet her latest grandchild Chelsy who was born in July. This kept her spirits up while she was in the Hospital. The family would like to extend their thanks and gratitude to all the Dr’s and nurses at Seven Oaks Hospital, Winnipeg Manitoba for the excellent care Beryl received in the last two months. Cremation and funeral arrangements were organized through Neil Bardal Funeral Centre in Winnipeg. Funeral services were held at St. Matthew’s Anglican Cathedral on October 11, 2012 The Right Rev’d Jim Njegovan, The Very Reverend Robin Walker officiated and Rev’d John Dolloff assisted. Ashes were placed within the St. Matthew’s Anglican Columbarium. “Come to me who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest” Matthew 11:28Neil Bardal Funeral Centre, 204-949-2200.www.nbardal.mb.ca

As published in Brandon Sun on Oct 20, 2012