GRETA GERTRUDE

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GRETA GERTRUDE MacKENZIE (nee GREY) Wife, mother, grandmother, fencer, poet, Girl Guide, gardener, RV-er, social worker, bridge fiend, Scrabble whiz, crossworder, rockhound, shell collector, sci-fi reader, Sunday School teacher, world traveller, knitter, baker, dieter, nature lover, wine maker, black coffee drinker, confirmed smoker, bureaucrats nemesis, strong woman, free thinker and loyal friend. Born September 23, 1921, in Weyburn, SK; died in Winnipeg, January 14, 2003, surrounded by people who loved her. Greta moved from a Froude, SK, homestead to Shackleton, SK, at a young age and spent her childhood there on an isolated wheat farm where she survived the dirty thirties with parents Bert and Jesse and brother Dick. In 1939 she entered the University of Saskatchewan in Regina where she obtained her BA. She graduated with a diploma in social work from the University of Manitoba in 1944 where she met Carl. They married in Regina that year and moved to New Glasgow, NS, where they ran the Childrens Aid Society of Pictou County. In 1948, following the birth of Grey and Sandy, the family drove back west, living in Swan River, Dauphin and The Pas where Alan was born. The MacKenzies then spent seven years in Flin Flon, described by Greta as the best time of her life. In 1962, the family moved to Winnipeg and Greta returned to university to obtain her Master of Social Work degree. She devoted many years to the Childrens Aid Society of Winnipeg where she was a supervisor in the family services area and a fearless advocate for her clients. She later worked as a social worker with the St. James School Division. Following Carls death in 1977, Greta helped sponsor the immigration of two families, the Vongs and the Millers, and she eventually moved to a wonderful home in Nanaimo, BC, complete with deer in her garden, eagles in her trees and a spectacular ocean view. In 1998, Greta endured the loss of her eldest son, Grey. In 2000 she returned to Winnipeg to be closer to family. Greta is survived by sons, Sandy and Alan; grandchildren, Kelsey, Casey, Andrew, Lillian, Reid and Julie; and many, many friends and relatives. A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 18 at 1:00 p.m. in the Leatherdale Gardiner Funeral Chapel, 1501 Waverly St., Winnipeg, (204)949-4860. If friends so desire, donations in Gretas memory may be made to the Kidney Foundation of Canada, Manitoba Branch, 200-55 Donald St., Winnipeg R3C 1L8.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 18, 2003