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GAIL ELEANOR COGHLAN
Born: Jun 26, 1954
Date of Passing: Aug 25, 2023
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryGAIL ELEANOR COGHLAN
Gail passed away peacefully at her home with family by her side after a two-year journey with cancer.
She will be greatly missed by her brother Rob (Sandi); nieces, Jill (Niall), Natalie, Cailey and nephew Jeffrey (Jordan); great-nieces and nephew, Rowan, Maeve, Cael, Ailie and Sinead; brother-in-law George; as well as Pearl and Kim McGonigal, along with many lifelong friends from Wildwood Park and around the world. Gail was predeceased by her parents, Norman and Eleanor Coghlan, and her sister, Barbara Coghlan.
Gail always showed us the way. No adventure was too great, no far-off place was too far away, and anything was possible. Learning about people, places, history, and science was her calling - along with refereeing and calming down her dad and brother with a level head and wise counsel during debates on current events at family Sunday dinners.
Gail cherished camping and other family trips from one end of North America to the other, time at her grandma's house in Killarney, Manitoba, and many summers on Lake of the Woods. It was those long childhood road trips that gave Gail her need to see what else the world had to offer and experience.
At a young age, Gail travelled the world for five years with a backpack on her back, along with her friend Donna Arbuckle. Living in London, she worked at Harrods Department Store. Then, it was off to Israel to work on a Lebanese border Kibbutz while bombs passed overhead. Then off to New Zealand to sheer sheep, to Australia to live in the outback, and finally a stay on the beaches of Papua New Guinea, with many other places and adventures in between.
Gail returned to Winnipeg to study and received her Bachelor of Science Degree at the University of Manitoba. We were all so proud of "the brains of the family", as Dad always said. Gail spent her career working with Dr. Marion Lewis at the RH Lab at the University of Manitoba, studying and researching RH science that would help families around the world live a better life. When she wasn't working, she cherished time spent with her nieces and nephew, especially babysitting on weekends when their parents were away. In recent years, she delighted in playing with her great-nieces and nephew.
Our family would like to thank Dr. Brian Sharkey for the exceptional and heartfelt care he gave Gail through the years. We would also like to thank the Palliative Care nurses and doctors. Finally, a special thanks to Geraldine Head for her support. This team helped Gail stay at home through this difficult time.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, October 5 at 10:00 a.m. at Thomson "In the Park", 1291 McGillivray Blvd.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Gail's memory to the Winnipeg Foundation (Norman and Eleanor Coghlan Memorial Fund).
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.thomsoninthepark.com for the Coghlan family.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 02, 2023
Condolences & Memories (2 entries)
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Dear Rob, Sandi and all of your Family. We are sending our most heartfelt Sympathy to you over the passing of your beloved Sister, Auntie, Friend and lovely human being, Gail. I have fond memories of many family celebrations and milestones over the years and am so grateful to have those rich memories. I worked at the U of M so had more than a few coffee break visits with Gail to catch up on her travel adventures. I am certain that your devotion to Gail throughout your lives was immensely significant along your individual journeys. I miss Norm and Win, my Mum, and, I will remember Gail as a generous soul and am grateful to have known her in my life. Peace and Love, Pat and Family - Posted by: Patricia Reid (Cousin) on: Sep 02, 2023
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Ms. Coughlan, my parents were big fans and supporters of your work. Thank you ever so much for all your years of dedication and hard work. Your work changed and improved the lives of many people especially our family. May you rest in peace. 🩷 - Posted by: Janice Maslanko (Thankful Follower) on: Sep 02, 2023
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