MILDRED BABAIAN

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MILDRED BABAIAN

Mildred Babaian died peacefully on Tuesday, August 18, 2026 at Grace General Hospital. She was 93 years of age.

She is survived by her children: Arpena (Stewart), Liz (Chris), Sharon (Bob), Sheila, Aram (Karen), Zabel (Dale) and John and her grandchildren: Anoosh, Alex, Anthony, Miranda, Raffi and Anahid, as well as her birth family (happily discovered via Ancestry DNA in 2019): the Weber family, originally from Morden, Manitoba: John Eberl, Sandra Eberl, Colleen Brownridge, Maxine Serfas, Katherine Kelly, Ruth Russel, Paul Bourget, Matt Bourget and their families. She was predeceased by her birth mother Mary Weber, her adoptive parents, Rhoda and Lewis Maddox, her beloved husband Albert, their son Alec and her brother Douglas.

A Grand Beach romance with the persuasive Albert Babaian turned into marriage at 18 years of age, a marriage that lasted for 70 years, despite mother-in-law Babaian's regret that Millie was not a "nice Armenian girl". Millie devoted her considerable talents and energy to raising eight boisterous children with Albert, first in a farmhouse on Arden Avenue, then in the comparative luxury of a three bedroom, one bathroom house on Springside Drive. When the youngest went off to school, she decided she needed more to do. She took on part-time employment at Eaton's in the Fancy Foods Department. Simultaneously, she upgraded her education, attending night school for her Grade 12 and then revelling in higher learning at the University of Winnipeg, one evening course at a time.

With her new qualifications, she was able to take a job she loved. As a Teaching Assistant she worked with students who needed her support (empathy plus expectations plus guidance). Young people and staff at Glenlawn Collegiate and South Winnipeg Tech Centre knew she was special.

Remarkably, she also found the time to serve her community. Service was important to her, as evidenced by her long-standing and enthusiastic involvement in the Riverside Lions Club, Duke of Kent Legion and the Liberal Party of Canada. In fact, in the weeks before her passing she was selling Lions Club Grey Cup pool tickets at Freshco, attending Friday meetings at The Duke, and keeping an eye on Prime Minister Carney.

Millie was always interested in and had informed opinions about the world. She was a voracious reader, devouring literature, newspapers and magazines at an impressive rate. For a break she would do the New York Times crosswords or shout out answers while watching Jeopardy. She loved theatre, old movies, music (from opera to folk), and often shed a tear listening to Frank Sinatra and Bob Dylan. She taught herself bridge, and liked a regular flutter, gambling cautiously at casinos near and far.

She and Albert shared a need to travel. This shaped her love of Canada and her leftist world view. Road trips across Canada and to visit the American relatives were fine, except for the terrifying bridges. With 10 of us plus camping gear jammed into Dad's work van, Millie supervised the road trips and ensured our meagre budget covered all necessities. But her favourite destination was the lake, where she could pick berries long after the less-determined pickers had gone home. In 1984, she and Albert travelled to visit Arpi at home in Germany, then borrowed her car and fearlessly ventured out to explore Europe.

Despite her natural reserve, Millie welcomed everyone to her home. The house was small and chaotic but was the destination of choice for her children's friends, her and Albert's many acquaintances and relatives from out of town. Besides offering fun and food, it was a refuge for anyone who needed shelter, a sympathetic ear and no-nonsense advice. Their children's friends remember how precious this was to them.

Millie forged a unique relationship with each of her six grandchildren. She provided customized lunches on school days and a comfortable place to rest on sick days. She endeared herself to them by letting them control the tv remote. All six played together every Sunday at the Babaian family dinner, hosted by Millie.

In Millie's later years she was determined to remain in her home. She was able to do this because of her family's support, especially that of her youngest daughter Zabel, who was her full-time carer and companion. They were simpatico. Her children and their spouses pitched in to ensure that she could not only manage but enjoy life. All stayed close to Millie and to each other, having been inculcated with the merits of caring and loyalty, enjoyment of spirited "discussion" and controlling any tendency for gratuitous vitriol.

Millie was not demonstrative and never dramatic but always seemed to be there on cue. We will never know how many people she helped nor how many ways she quietly enriched the lives of others. A remarkable woman, she will be missed.

There will be a Memorial Service at Green Acres Funeral Home, 1 Green Acres Lane, on Thursday, August 27, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Donations in Millie's memory can be made to the Lions Foundation and Eye Bank of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario, 320 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 22, 2026