ENID OLIVE (MORRIS) DURWARD

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

ENID OLIVE (MORRIS) DURWARD

December 22, 1928 - March 28, 2026

It is with great sadness our family announces Enid’s passing on March 28 at the Grace Hospital.
She will be missed and remembered by her daughter Mavis Taillieu, son Jim Durward (Danielle), grandsons Graeme Hall (Andrea) and Tyler Hall (Chantel). She so loved and cherished her two great-grandsons Liam and Matix who brought her much joy and happiness. “Those little guys”, she would remark! And they loved her and her stories.
She was predeceased by her husband Jim Durward, her sister Winona and brother-in-law Robbie McFarlane, sister Wilma and brother-in-law Andy Duncan and brother Glen Morris, son-in-law Wilf Taillieu, sisters-in-law Marguerite Willis (Lloyd), Alana Saunders, Thelma Willis (Charlie), Jean Durward, and brothers-in-law Bill Durward (Winnifred), Charlie Durward (Annabelle), and numerous cousins, and friends. She is survived by sister-in-law Donna Morris and many nieces and nephews.
Enid was a woman ahead of her time. She received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Manitoba at the age of 20. Her hopes of becoming a doctor were dashed as no women were accepted into pre-med that year. She trained as a Laboratory technologist and worked at Deer Lodge Hospital until she married Jim Durward in 1951. Later she would work as Chief Technologist at the Brandon Clinic and at the Victoria Hospital in Winnipeg.
She was born and raised in Austin, Manitoba - the center of the universe as they called it in the Morris family. She and Jim met there, married there, raised a family there until Jim’s job took the family to Brandon, Souris, and Thunder Bay and finally back to Winnipeg.
While in Austin Enid served on the Board of the Austin Credit Union, was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star (in which she continued everywhere she lived), taught high school at Austin Collegiate, and volunteered at the Austin Thresherman’s Reunion. She was asked to second the nomination for Douglas Campbell in one of his later elections. Douglas Campbell became Premier of Manitoba in 1948.
Enid was always an active person. She played badminton, was an avid curler, bowler, golfer and learned to downhill ski at the age of 47. After she retired, she continued with regular exercise classes. Up until her last months she would (aided by her walker) walk the hallways of the Shaftesbury Retirement Home to “get her steps in”.

Retirement brought travel to Enid and Jim. They vacationed in Europe, and Hawaii and took several cruises. They bought a motor home and travelled to every province and every continental state. They finally settled in Orange Grove Park in Edinburg Texas where they made many friends. After Jim passed Enid continued to travel. She saw the pyramids, walked the Great Wall of China and went white water rafting in her eighties. She wanted to go for a hot air balloon ride, but it was cancelled three times due to weather, she took that as an omen and didn’t go.
At 87 she left her condo and moved into the Shaftesbury Retirement Home where she enjoyed many social activities including “brain power” which she won often, bingo and Bridge- she was proud that she could bid and play a Grand Slam. She made many friends there over the years, both residents and staff.
Enid was a strong, determined, independent woman who never shied away from speaking her mind. But she was also compassionate and empathetic, ever mindful of anyone who needed help.
The family would like to thank the many staff at the Shaftesbury whom Enid cherished as her friends, for their care and support and friendly service, and the staff of 3N at Grace Hospital in her final days.
As per Enid’s wishes, there will be no formal service, a memorial will be held at a later date at the Shaftsbury. Cremation has taken place and she will be placed beside her husband Jim in Austin Cemetery with immediate and extended family.

Mom, Grandma, Great-Grandma we will miss you!

Chapel Lawn Funeral Home
204-885-9715

Tribute Link: www.chapellawn.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 04, 2026