ELLENOR MARGARET GILMOUR

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ELLENOR MARGARET GILMOUR Our precious daughter, sister, sister-in-law, niece and aunt Ellenor Margaret Gilmour died peacefully in the arms of her sister at 1:45 a.m. on Tuesday, August 15, 2000 at the St. Boniface Hospital. She was diagnosed with cancer in May. Surgery followed, but the cancer was not contained. She volunteered to be a subject of a study, which would use an experimental drug along with a standard chemotherapy treatment. She believed this drug had great potential and would be a wonderful benefit for many people. She was the first patient in Canada to participate in this program. Unfortunately, after only nine treatments, she had to be hospitalized and passed away three days later. During her illness she received an enormous amount of love from her friends and family which she returned in abundance. Her legacy is the inspiration she gave us to be kind and generous and find the best aspects of a persons character. Ellenor was born on May 4, 1934 in the town of Russell, which was five miles from the family farm pioneered by Grampa Gilmour who came from Ireland. She was a curious, delightful child, usually out-maneuvering her protective older sister Joan and younger tag-a-long sister Violet. The family moved to Winnipeg in 1944 and she attended Isaac Brock School and Daniel McIntyre Collegiate before enrolling in the Nursing Program at the General Hospital on William Avenue. These were the days when you lived in residence for three years, proudly emerging as a Registered Nurse in a crisp white starched uniform. From there, it was only a short stop to freedom and exciting adventures of working for Trans Canada Airlines. Her career as a flight attendant, then flight director, spanned 32 years and took her to many exotic places before she retired in 1991 when her father died. Then she and her mother made a new home for themselves in Charleswood where they looked after each other. Ellenor enjoyed many sports. She skied in Switzerland, swam and sunned in the tropical and local islands, rode a camel around the Egyptian pyramids, drank bitter Fiji juice. Her diving and skating techniques were quite inspiring, as she wasnt a youngster when she took on those challenges. Her greatest love was horses and her thoroughbred Sir Double was her most beloved possession. They had a common language and he was her protector. The many hours she lavished on his well-being made a binding relationship. Books were close to Ellenors heart and she was one of the very few who have read the Bible several times. She was a volunteer and Block Captain for the Diabetes Foundation and a strong supporter and past president of the Air Canada Maple Wings Manitoba Chapter. Ellenors memory will be lovingly cherished by her mother Vera Gilmour; Aunt Marge; sisters, Joan and Don McLean, Violet and Mike Halicki; nephews, John, Ross and Tom; and their families. She was predeceased by her father Joseph John Gilmour. Active pallbearers will be Messrs. Don McLean, John McLean, Ross McLean, Tom McLean, Bill Kushnieryk, and Michael Halicki. The funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, August 18 at Chapel Lawn Funeral Home, 4000 Portage Ave., with Rev. Michael Boulger officiating. Interment will follow in the Garden of Resurrection, Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens. A gathering of family and friends will follow in the Chapel Lawn Reception Centre. If you wish to honour Ellenors memory, the family would encourage a donation to the Copall Equestrian Centre, 4180 Waverley St. One of their programs is providing therapeutic riding to disabled children and adults. Arrangements entrusted to: CHAPEL LAWN FUNERAL HOME CEMETERY AND CREMATORIUM 885-9715

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 17, 2000