BLANCHE LINKLATER

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BLANCHE LINKLATER Suddenly on Saturday, July 29, we lost our beloved Mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Blanche Linklater, at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg. She has now joined our dear father, Tom in heaven. Mom was born in Piapot, Saskatchewan on September 27, 1918. Her family moved to Manitoba during the Depression, and thats where she met and married our dad on September 22, 1939. The early years were very hard for her, raising seven children with no running water or modern conveniences, milking cows, feeding pigs, and generally working like a man when Dad was at work or in terrible pain with arthritis. They moved to Selkirk in 1967 and Mom worked for Eatons and Sears order offices for many years. However, she always had time to babysit her grandchildren, who she loved so dearly, and also baking. At Christmas time, her sugar cookies were always fought over, no matter how many she made. Mother was predeceased by her husband Tom; her parents, Selmer and Annie Sanderson; brother Leonard Sanderson; daughter-in-law Vicki; grandson Matthew; and her dearly loved dog Jake. Left to cherish her memory are her children, Keith, Les and wife Gloria, Darlene and husband George Fedoruk; Lois and husband Herb Penner, Dale, Donna and husband Ray Cherniak and Ian, who was her strength and foundation. Also, her sister Edna and husband Ed Caruk; brothers, Ralph and wife Virginia, Alfred and wife Gladys, George and wife Frances, Stan and wife Lyn; sister-in-law Agnes Sanderson; and numerous nieces and nephews. Also to carry her legacy are her grandchildren, who she loved with all her heart, Laurie Popoff, Pam and Peter Seekings, Dawn and Gerry Lipkewicz, Robert Linklater, Stacey and Brian Fedoruk Harrison, Jodi Penner and Erin Cherniak. The twinkles in her eyes were her great-grandchildren, Taylor and Cole Popoff, Christopher, Jeffrey and P.J. Seekings, Ashley and Bryson Lipkewicz, and Sam and Jack Fedoruk Harrison. She loved them so very much. Also, our heartfelt thanks to Wanda, Moms homecare worker who became such a dear friend to her and all the other ladies from Homecare who helped Mom through the past few years. Mother adored you all. An evening prayer service will be held on Wednesday, August 2 at 7:00 p.m. at Gilbart Funeral Chapel, Selkirk. Funeral services will be held Thursday, August 3 at 10:30 a.m. at Selkirk United Church. Interment will follow in the Cloverdale United Church Cemetery. Her pallbearers will be Dennis Linklater, Ray Linklater, Merv Gudmundson, Brian Yarmill, Rob Starodub and Jeff Decock. Her honourary pallbearers will be her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, if friends and family so desire, donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, 301-352 Donald St., Winnipeg, MB R3B 2H8 or to Breast Cancer, in care of Cancer Care MB, 100 Olivia St., Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0V9. Mom was a very strong, determined lady with a heart of gold. She was the rock we all leaned on. She would never give you advice unless you asked, though were sure many times she wanted to. Her son-in-laws called her "The General" because she liked to give out orders to them, just to get their goats. Well, their little General has gone to rest. How we will miss her. "Weep not for me, Im free from pain, My earthly sufferings are over. I hope to meet you all again, On a peaceful happy shore." Until we meet again Mom. We love you so much, and you will never be forgotten. Gilbart Funeral Home, Selkirk, in care of the arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 01, 2000