PENELOPE MARY ANNE LEVACQUE (WILLIAMS)

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PENELOPE MARY ANNE LEVACQUE
(nee WILLIAMS)

Penny passed away on February 15, 2022, at the Grace Hospital from lung infections and pneumonia that were complicated by myelodysplastic syndrome, a rare blood disorder within the bone marrow.
Penny is survived by her older brother Terry (Mary Ellen) Williams and younger sister Christine (Tony) Hayhurst, along with the Alarie family, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was predeceased by her parents, Rodney and Rita Williams, and older brother Alan (Judith Dedrick-Williams) Williams. Penny is fondly remembered by Theresa and Graeme MacKendrick who were her most constant and true friends, Pat Hunter who included her like family, and Suzanne Queen who was her trusted sidekick.
Penny was born on August 29, 1948 in Pembrooke, ON. A child of an Army veteran, she grew up in many homes from Ontario to British Columbia. Penny spent much of her adult life with her former partner, Donald Levacque, in areas of Alberta and British Columbia, before moving back to Manitoba and finally making her home at Hamilton House, in Winnipeg, MB.
She was a Renaissance Woman, teaching herself home repair, furniture finishing, and upholstery, and putting her stamp on every place she lived. Along with her creative flair, Penny was a very kind soul and had a generous personality that went unmatched in any space she occupied. She was the resident Social Convenor for many appreciative friends and neighbours; events at Hamilton House evidenced her boundless activity, impeccable organization, and army-scale culinary talents. Penny made her work career in administration and accounting and her life career in acts of service - she always went above and beyond for her family, friends, and neighbours.
Despite her diagnosis with myelodysplastic syndrome (and the many debilitating side-effects, infections, and pre-leukemia diagnosis that accompanied it), Penny remained an absolute force within her social network and continually provided the best care to those around her. We had a hard time imagining that her can-do attitude would ever quit, that no physical ailment would ever sap her strength or spirit, and that she would wake up and be right onto the next errand or event.
The family would like to send immense support and thanks to her many friends at Hamilton House, nurses at Grace Hospital ICU, and staff at CancerCare Manitoba. The family encourages memorial contributions be made in the form of small or big favours towards family, friends, and neighbours, so that Penny's caring legacy may continue.
A springtime Celebration of Life will follow in Winnipeg, MB.

"Thou must be true thyself
If thou the truth wouldst teach;
Thy soul must overflow if thou
Another's soul wouldst reach.
It needs the overflow of heart
To give the lips full speech.

Think truly, and thy thoughts
Shall the world's famine feed;
Speak truly, and each word of thine
Shall be a fruitful seed;
Live truly, and thy life shall be
A great and noble creed."
– Be True to Thyself by H. Bonar

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 26, 2022