M. JEAN SHANKS

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M. JEAN SHANKS

(nee MCKEAG)

It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that the family announces the passing of our mother and grandma Martha Jean Shanks on Saturday, November 18, 2023 at St. Boniface Hospital, at the age of 99.
Jean will be sorely and forever missed by her son David and daughter Susan, grandchildren Marta and Carey, and her cousin Patricia Harman. She was predeceased by her husband Douglas in 2016, her parents Charles and Mary, and her brother William and sister Margaret.
Jean was born in Winnipeg and raised in River Heights, where she attended Kelvin High School. After graduating from high school she held various positions with Birks, Coca Cola, North American Lumber and lastly Trans Canada Airlines (now Air Canada) until her marriage to Douglas in 1947. Around 1980, she decided that it might be fun to return to work again, at least on a part-time basis for maybe a couple of years. So she took a job with H & R Block as a tax preparer over the tax season. As it turned out she liked that job (and the people she worked with and the customers she met) so much that she continued in that position for almost 10 years. She quickly became an excellent tax preparer and rapidly developed a regular clientele, who would insist when they returned in subsequent years that "Jean was to do their taxes!"
Jean was a voracious reader, and did at least one crossword puzzle every day including the New York Times puzzle on the weekends. She loved playing cards and board games, her favourites being bridge (with her various bridge clubs) and canasta. She also enjoyed travelling, which she and the family did regularly, and she especially enjoyed the various cruises she and Doug took together, as well as the bus tours she took to the U.S. with "the girls" to see either a concert or just to go shopping.
In her teens, Jean developed a love of horses and spent many years during the 1940s horseback riding at the Cambridge riding academy. She would often reflect on those days with great fondness. In the 1960s she took up curling for a couple of years, before moving on to golf. She was a long-time member of the Assiniboine Golf Club in her later years and, although she wasn’t a great golfer, she truly enjoyed the comradery of her many "golfing buddies".
Jean lived most of her married life in St. James, with the exception of about six years during the 1970s when she and Doug lived in Montreal. She was a very kind, thoughtful and caring person. She would always offer to give someone a ride if they needed it, give you a little gift if she thought it would cheer you up, and if you were in the hospital for some reason you could always expect a visit(s) from Jean. She was a regular volunteer at Reddy Memorial Hospital in Montreal during her time in that city. She had a great sense of humour and always enjoyed a good laugh. She took great pride in her appearance, and would never venture outside unless her clothing and make-up were just right.
Jean was very much a family person. When growing up, she had a large extended family of aunts and uncles which she loved and admired. They were all a "fun bunch" she would frequently recall. She also made sure she supported her children and grandchildren as they grew up. She would regularly attend their sporting and other events. She would provide wise counsel when needed (even when you might not be asking for it!), which was always provided with her best intentions. She was the best mom one could have ever hoped for.
Unfortunately, health problems in the last six or seven years of her life (blindness, hearing and mobility problems) prevented her from being able to continue to do all the activities she had so much enjoyed prior to that time, but she persevered with a remarkably positive attitude in spite of her significant physical limitations, a testament to her strong character. During those later years she would always worry that if someone she knew waved or said hello, and she didn’t respond because she couldn’t see or hear them, they would think that she was being unfriendly. Hopefully this never happened.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Holy Family Home for the care they provided Jean during the last six months of her life, and to Dr. Peters (ER) and Dr. Colbourne (Respiratory Unit) at St. Boniface Hospital for their care during the last two days of her life.
In compliance with Jean’s wishes no formal funeral service will be held, and cremation has taken place.

Publish Date: Dec 2, 2023

M. JEAN SHANKS

(nee MCKEAG)

It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that the family announces the passing of our mother and grandma, Martha Jean Shanks, on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at St. Boniface Hospital, at the age of 99.
A longer obituary to follow.

Publish Date: Nov 30, 2023

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 02, 2023