Jean CHRISTIANSON

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CHRISTIANSON: Jean Edith “Edie” Christianson (nee Turnbull). It is with sadness that we announce the passing of our mother Jean Edith Christianson on October 12, 2018. Edie was born in 1925 in St. Boniface, MB and was raised with 2 brothers in the Norwood district of the city. After graduating high school, she entered the registered nursing program at St. Boniface hospital which she completed in 1947. Degree in hand, and seeking a bit of adventure, she accepted a position in Brooks, AB for a year before returning to Winnipeg to work at Deer Lodge Hospital. A year later, she applied for what was supposed to be a 6 month position at the TB hospital at Clearwater Lake near The Pas, a position that became much more long term when she married the hospital administrator, Carl Christianson. Six years later and now with 3 children in tow (Bruce, Brian and Susan), the family moved to Brandon when Carl became administrator of the Assiniboine hospital. While working as a nurse part-time at the Central Park Lodge, Edie decided to pursue a degree in psychology at Brandon College, at first taking one course a semester, then several a semester and ultimately going to college full time. Finally, after an epic battle with statistics she graduated in 1966 and was hired to teach in the RN program at the Brandon General Hospital (BGH). However, her teaching career was briefly sidelined the following year by the birth her daughter, Shawna Jean whom she often referred to jokingly as the family’s centennial project in honor of Canada’s 100th. At the BGH school of nursing, she became interested in gerontology in general and specifically death and dying and palliative care and led the teaching of those topics to the nursing students. In order to broaden her knowledge about the newest trends in palliative care, she attended courses in England and Victoria, BC and received a certificate in gerontology from the University of Manitoba. In addition to teaching, she became involved as a volunteer with the cancer society working directly with cancer patients and their families in area of patient services. After retirement from BGH in 1985, she became more heavily involved with the society, ultimately receiving the Commemorative Medal from the Governor General’s office in 1993 for her devotion to cancer care and the Gold Award for Volunteers from the Manitoba Division of the Cancer Society – the highest honor that the society could confer on a volunteer. Edie was also a bit of a feminist and worked with the Soroptomists, a group dedicated to promoting women’s rights and empowering young women in Canada. After the death of Carl in 1993, she moved to Winnipeg in 1995, ultimately finding a new home and many new friends at the Fred Douglas senior living facility where she lived independently until 2017. While living downtown, she continued volunteering teaching English as a second language to new immigrants and helping at the Nearly New store which sold donated clothing. During retirement, Edie took the opportunity to have extended visits with her children and their families as they moved around the world with their jobs though many of these trips were to places that could hardly be labelled as tourist meccas. Countries that she visited were Niger and Sudan in Africa, Australia, Israel, the West Bank, Germany and the US. In 2017 she moved to Dakota House in St. Vital, an assisted living community. After a brief illness, she passed away on October 12, 2018 at Grace Hospital. Edie Christianson could be described as a quiet lady who helped others without any expectation of reward or recognition. She will be greatly missed by family and friends. She is predeceased by her husband Carl and daughter Shawna Jean. She is survived by her son Bruce (Holly) in Birmingham, Alabama, son Brian (Julie) in Perth, Australia, daughter Susan in Winnipeg and son-in-law John Clarke in Jerusalem as well as her 8 grandchildren. In accordance with her wishes, her remains will be cremated and there will be no funeral. Donations in her name to the Manitoba Cancer Society or the Clark Foundation (www.clarkefoundation.ca - a charity founded in her daughter's name aiding education of young Palestinian women) would be greatly appreciated by her family.

As published in Brandon Sun on Oct 20, 2018