SUSAN JOHNSTON (ZACHARIAS)

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

SUSAN JOHNSTON (nee ZACHARIAS) Born: May 18, 1917 in Altona Died: March 13, 2003 in Winnipeg Susan passed away peacefully after a lengthy illness in Winnipeg. She leaves to mourn her only daughter, Rona Johnston and her beloved brothers and sisters, nephews and nieces. Susan was predeceased by her husband, Lee (1984) and son, Lee Ault (1947) as well as by her parents. Susan Johnston was born May 18, 1917 in southern Manitoba to Henry and Anna Zacharias. Susan resided in this area until her teen years when she became ill and went away to the Ninette Sanitarium to recuperate. It was here, a few years later that she met her future husband, Lee Edward Johnston who she spent 45 years with. Lees job on the Canadian National Railway took him all over Ontario and Manitoba and mother had to face the challenge of creating a home away from her family and friends. Mother was a unique, vibrant and energetic spirit. Her creativity manifested itself in the areas of clothing design, furniture building, carpentry, gardening and hypnotherapy. Indeed, Mother was a woman of unusual talents and interests for her time, preferring to build a fence on her newly-acquired property rather than while away the time drinking coffee with neighbours. Her humour is legendary and myriad family stories attest to this. Mother was a well-read person, particular fascinated with religion, philosophy and health issues. She was a woman of strong passions and interests and dearly loved all her family and friends! Numerous relatives were the lucky recipients of clothing hand-crafted with love. Mother met her numerous health challenges with courage and intelligence, becoming as pro-active as possible in the health regimes, beating TB and cancer. We wish to extend thanks to all the members of the 3rd floor nursing/health-care staff at Misericordia Place who helped make Mothers last years as comfortable as possible, and to the nurses at the Victoria Hospital, Monique and Corey. A very special thanks to the following family members who tenderly and lovingly assisted mother when Rona was not available to do so: Aunt Marie Friesen (sister) Ant Elma and Uncle Bill Friesen (sister and brother-in-law) Uncle Ben Zacharias (brother) aunt Leona Fehr (sister) and Aunt Yvonne Voth (sister). Also much love to her Friesen nephews and to her special niece Joyce Young (and family) and nephew, Eugene Excoffon. The funeral will take place Friday, March 21 at 2:00 p.m. in the Garry Memorial Funeral Home, 1291 McGillivray Blvd. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba, 301-352 Donald St., Winnipeg, MB R3B 2H8 or to Winnipeg Harvest, 1085 Winnipeg Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3E 0S2. GARRY MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME CEMETERY AND CREMATION CENTRE 1291 McGillivray Blvd, 925-1120

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 19, 2003