JANET ALISON MAGUIRE (GEMMEL)

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JANET ALISON MAGUIRE (nee GEMMEL) Peacefully on Wednesday January 5, 2000 following a stroke on December 26, 1999. Alison was born December 16, 1923 in Brandon, MB, the younger daughter of Stuart and Harry Gemmel. She was predeceased by brothers, John of Winnipeg and Robert of Toronto. She is survived by her sister Barbara Thomson (Roy) of Guelph; brother Donald (Sheila) of Winnipeg; sister-in-law Gwen of Toronto; husband Ed Maguire of Winnipeg; their children, John Edward (Susan Collison), Sean and Nicholas; Douglas Stuart (Rebecca Slater), Duncan, Kaitlyn and Geordie; Barbara Alison (Ken Shute), Lindsay and Lauren. Her early years were spent in Dauphin. Following graduation from Dauphin Collegiate, Alison spent two years in teacher training at Bob Jones College in Tennessee. She joined the Winnipeg School Division teaching staff in 1946, at Grosvenor School and subsequently at Lord Roberts. In her early years she was active in Inter-School Christian Fellowship, as a counsellor at Pioneer Camp and in young peoples work at Elim Chapel. In 1952 she married Edward Maguire, also a Winnipeg teacher. After a brief foreign language training period at the University of Michigan, they left for a three year term in Afghanistan. In Kabul, Alison occasionally taught at the Ahlman Academy and volunteered in the Afghan Nursery School. John and Douglas were born during this period and Barbara was born following their return to Winnipeg. The family located in St. Vital and have remained there to the present day. Alison never returned to teaching, but invested her time and talent in nurturing her own children, in youth work at St. Margarets, in Inter-School Christian Fellowship, in camp counseling, in several aspects of School Masters Wives Association, in the cancer patient visitation program and in Inter-Serve Prayer Fellowship. Summer camping, canoeing, vacation tripping, ski holidays in the mountains, cross-country skiing, swimming - all produced a very active and full life devoted to family and friends. Further travel opportunities occurred following Eds retirement, but with seven grandchildren, coming home was the best part of the trip. The family thank the medical staff and nursing staff of GA-4, Health Science Centre for their caring and kindness during her last days. The family are grateful for the concern and caring of the Pastoral Care Committee of St. Margarets Church over the past 6 years. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, January 10 with Rev. David Widdicombe officiating at St. Margarets Anglican Church (Westminster & Ethelbert). Reception to follow in the Church hall. Flowers are gratefully declined. Memorial gifts may be directed to Manitoba Pioneer Camp or Star Lake Lodge.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 07, 2000