LENORE VASSIE MELLIS

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LENORE VASSIE MELLIS 1914 - 2002 She and He were watching TV, and there was a very touching dying scene. "What would you do if that happened to me?" said She to He. "Id be lost," He replied. But He didnt ask me the same question that I asked him. But the answer is that I would be lost too. Mom joined Dad (Allan) on November 27. All through her life Mom wrote prose and poetry as you can see from the above which was written in 1984, three years before Dad died. I took great comfort in reading her writings the day of Moms death, something I had never done. In one passage, she referred to classmates from the one-room log school she attended three miles from her home in Pontrilas, SK, as being killed "...on the beaches of Dieppe in the last Great War, 1939 to 1945. My brothers were there too," she wrote. "Bud on the destroyer, Gatineau and Bryant on the landing craft, Prince David. My brothers, Im thankful to say, came home after the War." Moms sisterly love of her brothers and their families was shared by Dad. Moms with Bryant and Bud now too. Mom had a great reverence for all living things. She had a difficult time killing a bug. She had a great love of animals. Her first dog, a Great Dane named Jiggs, pulled her to school on a sleigh in winter, and later Nancy, her visually-challenged horse, took over that duty. She especially loved her Papillons. Mom and Dad introduced the breed to the Winnipeg community and whenever I see one of those little "butterfly" dogs, I think of Mom and Dad and the many good times we had together. In another passage I read, "We are blessed with one daughter Patricia Anne, one son-in-law Isidor Bruch...and two adored granddaughters, Jennifer Amber (Krahn) and Dawn Megan." And now she has one more...a grandson-in-law Ken Krahn. We will all miss you Mom. Her journey was an interesting one. In her chronicles, Mom wrote of herself, "Youre a pioneer, you know," Mrs. Mac said to me. "What do you mean?" I asked. "Because you were the first girl from the village of Pontrilas to go away to school in Cadette and Tisdale. Now youre the first girl to go to the city!" The city, Winnipeg, was a day and a night by train from home. Mom went to school and worked for board and room. Her third job was with the Advertising Department in Eatons as a writer. She ended her work career at age 65 with the Water Survey Department, Federal Government. We, as a family, were also blessed with enjoying cottage life at Lot 9, Moonlight Bay, West Hawk Lake for over 25 years. The drawing card for Mom wasnt just the lake and its beauty but the many wonderful friends we all made and whom we missed after the property was sold. Mom spent her last years at Middlechurch Home of Winnipeg. Doreen Ripley, lifetime family friend and now thought of as part of our family, spent many an hour with Mom taking her to church, to the "Pub" and just being there. Thank you, Doreen, for your patience, your understanding, your support and your love. At Middlechurch Home, Mom was surrounded by wonderful nursing and volunteer staff who cared for her as if she were a member of their family. A special thank you to all of you. I would be remiss to mention Moms sense of humour. We laughed a lot. She would hate it if I left you feeling sad and maudlin. I hope you enjoy the following written by Mom based on a real-life experience: I plant my feet upon the floor To start the struggle Ive had before Of getting into this hosiery... Its sposed to fit one larger than me! My toes wiggle into the miniscule space I pull and twist til Im red in the face. At last theyre on, though it wasnt a ball Getting all of ME into "One Size Fits All"! In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Middlechurch Home of Winnipeg, 280 Balderstone, Winnipeg, MB R4A 4A6, or to the Winnipeg Humane Society, 5 Kent Rd., Winnipeg, MB R2L 1X3. A private family celebration of Moms life will be held in December. Arrangements entrusted to: CHAPEL LAWN FUNERAL HOME CEMETERY AND CREMATORIUM 885-9715

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 30, 2002