NORMA MAUREEN BUCHANAN

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NORMA MAUREEN BUCHANAN

(nee MCLEAN)

It is with deep sadness we announce the sudden death of Norma Maureen Buchanan on July 9, 2026, at the age of 79 years.

Norma preferred being called Maureen, so already we have an issue here, but Norma was her legal name, so we thought we would start with that. Maureen was born in Virden, MB, but she lived most of her life in Brandon and Winnipeg where she met every person she loved (and the few she did not). She had a wonderful childhood. She loved her community and her family. She was predeceased by her loving husband, Gerald Wayne Buchanan, whom she married in 1974 after enjoying years of growth and joy with her friends and family all over Manitoba. She studied Social Work during university and spent the entirety of her working life trying to help people. She inspired her son and many others to do the same.

She was also predeceased by her mother, Beatrice Irene McLean, father, Norman Guthrie Strachan McLean and sisters Deborah McLean and Jaqueline Stew (nee McLean). They all loved each other very much and enjoyed mostly every minute they had together.

Maureen was an athletic and intelligent child, and that never changed. She was an avid swimmer as a child and a tenacious golfer and curler in her later years. She had a rooting interest in every sport she ever watched, her son watched or anyone near her watched. She read the paper every day. She was kind, thoughtful, and supported everyone that she loved in every endeavor they cared about. She volunteered at the Victoria Hospital in retirement. She knitted countless items of clothing for various charities. She always gave more than was expected.

Maureen and Gerald were blessed with the birth of their son, Daniel Elgin Buchanan on November 27, 1984. Maureen spent nearly every subsequent minute feeding, driving, loving, paying for, and worrying about him. She and Gerald instilled in him every good notion and value he has, and he is forever grateful for that.

Maureen will be forever missed by Daniel and his wife Hailey Caitlin Benoit, and all their extended family. She appreciated the time she spent with all her family, everyone in Waskada, long-time friends Bonnie and Wayne, Bill and Janet, Bridie, Judy, Lorraine, Donna, everyone she curled with, golfed with, exercised with and many old colleagues.

She was smart, tough, kind, independent, and full of compassion for all things. She passed suddenly in her home, comfortable at her own table, reading the paper. She was unburdened by a long illness. She will be sorely missed by all that knew her.

A celebration of Maureen’s life will be held on August 6, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Thomson “In the Park” Funeral Home, 1291 McGillivray Boulevard.

Donations may be made on her behalf to the Victoria Hospital where she spent time volunteering in her retirement.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 25, 2026