Amy MITCHELL

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

MITCHELL: Amy Alicia passed away on Sunday, December 4, 2016 at her residence, Rideau Park Personal Care Home where she had resided for five years. Born July 28, 1924 to William and Leonora Grayston of Newdale, MB, Amy was the second of four children, Mary (1922), John (1926) and Win (1928), all three have predeceased her. Amy attended St. Anthony’s College in Vancouver for some of her elementary schooling and after completing high school in Newdale she attended nurses training at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg. Following graduation in 1946, she worked in London, ON and Brooks, AB. Amy spent a year in the early 1950’s living in New York helping her older sister, Mary and husband Harre with their first child. Mary and Harre made that a very memorable time for Amy by taking her to Broadway plays and Brooklyn Dodgers baseball games. This time in New York fostered Mum’s lifelong passion with baseball, be it major league teams, her grandchildren’s baseball endeavors or her beloved Riverside Canucks. Amy settled in Souris, where she met and later married Elwood Collier in 1952. They had three children, Mel (1953), Lew (1955) and Wynn (1958). Amy worked full time at the Souris Hospital until her children were born, then she worked part-time for many years. In 1968, Amy and the children moved to Brandon where she has resided since. Amy worked at the old Assiniboine Hospital transferring to the new Assiniboine Centre when it opened in the 1970’s. After her children were grown, she married Lambert Mitchell of Souris. They had seven years of travelling to baseball games throughout Canada and the U.S. prior to his untimely death in 1984. One of Amy’s other passions was knitting and each of her four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren have had items knitted with love by Grandma. Another of Amy’s interests was travelling especially after retirement in 1989. She enjoyed trips to the Barbados, Jamaica, Cuba, England, Australia and New Zealand, as well as France, Spain and Portugal, and was often accompanied by one or both of her sisters, Mary and Win. She also travelled with a friend from nurses training, Anne Briggs late of Vancouver and also with dear friend, Audrey Silvius late of Brandon. On occasion her daughter, Wynn accompanied her on some of her travels. Mel and Flo vacationed with Amy in Florida to watch “Spring Training” baseball games. Lew and Heather also did some travelling with Amy down to California and Nevada again to watch baseball. Amy belonged to Beta Sigma Phi Sorority for over 60 years and has enjoyed the many women she has met through her involvement. Initially joining as a young woman while living in Souris and then joining a chapter in Brandon in 1968. Sorority enriched her life in many ways, from the lifelong friendships to the charity work her Sorority sisters were engaged in and of course, the many years of delivering “Meals on Wheels” and the “Daffodils” for the Cancer Society every April with her dear friends, Helen Weller and Lorna Cowan. After the meals were delivered there would be a gathering of the “gals” for lunch and that was always a highlight for Amy to visit with this special group of women. Time spent at the cabin at Oak Lake Beach were some great family times with her beloved grandchildren, Ashley, Shelby, Adam, and Brett. There were many bonfires, monopoly games and going to the beach with Grandma. Grandma won the Beauty pageant during one Monopoly game and the laughter from her grandsons was almost enough to raise the roof! Grandma was also known for having the best cookie cupboard a child could wish for. Chocolate fudgeeos, Goodie Rings and fig newtons were always staples in the cupboard. An avid reader, Amy belonged to a book club and the Danielle Steele books were always a family favorite to borrow. Amy is survived by her three children and their spouses: Mel and Flo; Lew and Heather; Wynn and Goldwyn Jones; her grandchildren and their partners: Ashley and Andrew Synyshyn, Adam and Sadie Fordyce, Shelby Collier and Cody Mathieu, and Brett and Nicole Fordyce; six great grandchildren: Myla, Roman and Ruby Synyshyn, Theodore Mathieu, Hayley and Hunter Fordyce. They have been the greatest gift any great-grandmother could ask for as Amy always perked up when children were around. Also surviving are one sister-in-law, Idabel Grayston of Banff, AB, several nieces and nephews, and Lambert’s family: Fran (Doug) Racher and their four daughters, and families; Lyn McCulloch and family; Lorna Hart and family; Vinnie MacFarlane and family; Wayne MacFarlane and family. Amy was also very fond of her furry grandchildren: Jetta, Mickey, Bert, Buddy and Punkin who have predeceased her. The Ceremony to Celebrate Amy's Life took place at Memories Chapel on Thursday, December 8, 2016. Lydia Glawson officiated. Amy was laid to rest in a private ceremony at the Newdale South Cemetery, Newdale, Manitoba. Donations in memory of Amy, may be made to the Christian Blind Mission, P.O. Box 800, Stouffville, Ontario L4A 7Z9. Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.memorieschapel.com.

As published in Brandon Sun on Dec 17, 2016