Gladys Hildebrand

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GLADYS HILDEBRAND
April 16, 1929 – September 12, 2016

Peacefully, after a brief illness, Gladys Hildebrand (nee Lemkay) went into the Light on Sept 12th, 2016.

Born April 16th, 1929 in Chicago, “Queenie’s” family moved a lot and she only technically became a Canadian citizen at age 65, having secretly crossed into the Manitoba prairies as a child via wagon. She had a lifelong love of learning and her best working years were as a school teacher and then librarian. She believed in reading anything and everything and did puzzling, crocheting, painting and coloring to keep her hands and mind busy.

She was predeceased by her parents George and Anne Lemkay (nee Hoeppner), and brothers Gordon (Doreen), Harold, and Irvin. She is survived by her husband Albert of 58 years, sisters Rita Geekie and Doris (Shel) Irvine, children Maureen (Scott) Gilroyed and Myles (Barb) Hildebrand, and grandchildren Connor, Mylea, and Rowan. Her pride was of the many family members, friends, and students she had the honor of meeting over the years. She was very involved in community activities, such as Scouts, Messengers, Ladies Fellowship Group, Band Boosters, and the Niverville Fair. She proudly worked for Elections and Taxation Canada and believed everyone should do their part for their fellow man.

When young, her family moved around a lot and she worked at an early age in Transcona, eventually moving on her own to Calgary to work at a cookie factory before getting her grade 12 and 6 weeks of Teacher’s College to return to Manitoba to teach. At the one-room Hollywood School near Langruth, she met Albert who had the farm next door and they started attending dances together. They married in 1958 and eventually left the farm to settle in Neepawa. In 1976, the family moved to Niverville, spending her last two years at the Niverville Credit Union Manor. She had a knack for figuring out what each person in her life needed and how might she help foster them along. Ahead of her time, she was a dedicated career woman who waited to get married, delayed having children, and felt way too young to become a grandmother at only age 71. As she moved into each phase of life, she gave it her all.

As her ‘earthly space-suit’ started to fail her these last few months, she said it was just another learning for her; an amusing surprise to be considered ill or even elderly, at only age 87. On her last day she was quite enjoying the hospital and knew she was deeply loved when she suddenly told the staff that she was ‘going home’ before her kind heart beat its last.

The family would like to thank Dr. Tam and the loving staff at St. Boniface Hospital for their respectful care. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Winnipeg Library Foundation to help promote libraries and literacy. A celebration of life was held at Niverville United Church on Monday, Sept 19, 2016 at 3:00 p.m. with a reception and wake to immediately follow at the Niverville Heritage Centre at 5:00 p.m.

Arrangements by
BIRCHWOOD FUNERAL CHAPEL
1-204-346-1030 OR 1-888-454-1030

As published in The Carillon on Sep 14, 2016