FRANCES RACHEL WHEELER

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

FRANCES RACHEL WHEELER With great sadness our family announces the passing of Frances Rachel Wheeler on July 5, 2000 at the Victoria General Hospital. Our mother and grandmother was born in Beausejour July 13, 1910, one of seven children born to Robert and Ellen Deakin. She survived the passing of sisters Mary and Kathleen and brothers, Joseph, George, Richard and Theodore. In turn, our Nana is survived by daughter Judith (Gordon) Waldmo of Winnipeg and Don (Diane) Carruthers of Oak Bank; by sons Allan Wheeler of Vancouver and Garnett (Maxine) of Flin Flon, Man.; by grandsons, Craig (Sandra) Waldmo, and Cory (Carla) Waldmo, of Winnipeg; and by granddaughter Ryann Carruthers of Vancouver. She is survived by sister-in-law Mrs. Sally Deakin of Winnipeg. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews here in Winnipeg, in Edmonton, Alta., Comox B.C., Fargo, N.D., and Baton Rouge, La. Following her familys move to Elmwood, then later to St. Vital, our mother worked for 14 years in the credit department of the Hudsons Bay Company, Winnipeg. She married Clarence Carruthers in 1941 in Flin Flon, and was widowed by his sudden death in 1953. In 1959 she married Ernest Wheeler and was widowed again in 1966. During a part of her years in Flin Flon, she was again employed, for another period of 14 years, by her former employer, the Bay. In retirement, she returned to Winnipeg in 1967 where she lived until her passing. Though having to live with increasing, then complete blindness during the latter years of her life, our Nana witnessed the births of her grandchildren; and in her delight and devotion, she contributed much beyond measure to the joys of their childhood and to their success as adults. Our mothers fellow residents of 60 Chesterfield Avenue should regard themselves her honorary pallbearers. Our family acknowledges their kind assistance over the years and especially their concern during her last illness. Similarly, our family acknowledges the efforts extended by the dedicated personnel of Home Care. Our mother looked forward keenly to the warm contact of their daily visits. We thank all of them sincerely. Our family also thanks Dr. Maxwell, Dr. Cummings, Chaplain Jane Best, and the medical personnel of the Victoria General Hospital. Their care and kindness has been so much appreciated. In like manner, we express especially our profound gratitude to the nursing staff of the 3rd floor who cared so attentively and professionally to our mother over these past three weeks. Their consideration and attention to detail in their care reflect a compassion indeed beyond compare. A memorial service will take place on July 8 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Bartholomew Anglican Church, 881 Autumnwood Dr., with Rev. Wm. Oakley officiating. Flowers are respectfully declined; however, should friends care to offer a charitable donation in our mothers memory, we ask that it be made to the C.N.I.B. Experience teaches us short ways by long wanderings. With our mothers passing, we are left with the learning of some of these short, fundamentally human lessons: love, guidance, wisdom, and the steadfast giving of ones self. "One must wait until the Evening to see how splendid the Day has been." (Sophocles)

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 06, 2000