V. GWEN BINKLEY

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V. GWEN BINKLEY Comforted by the love of her family and friends, both near and far away, Gwen passed safely into the arms of her Lord Jesus Christ early on May 5, 2004. After a courageous ten year battle with breast cancer, the burden of disease became too much, even for her amazing fighting spirit. She leaves to mourn her loss, but to rejoice that her pain and suffering are ended, her loving husband J.R. (Jack) Binkley; three daughters and their spouses and her great joys of eight grandchildren. They are Penny and Kirby Copeland (Nicholas and Kayla) of Winnipeg, Karen and Ken McGillis (Rheanna, Brad, Dore, and Darren) of Brandon and Shannon McIndoe and Andrew Reynolds (Victoria and Elizabeth) of Shilo. Gwen is also survived by her sisters, brothers-in-law and their families. They are Carol and Cliff Baerg from Saskatchewan, Janice and Dr. Robert Buhr of Virginia, Kathy and Russ Isaac and Marion and Rex Regier, all of Kansas. She leaves a cherished extended family and huge circle of friends. She was predeceased by her parents, Alvena and Rev. Jacob H. Epp. Gwen spent much of her working life as an administrator for several municipalities and the province. She enjoyed many activities including photography, cooking, sewing, crafts and time at the cottage or travelling. Community service included professional organizations, her church, Transcona Food Bank and volunteer work in the breast cancer community including CancerCare committees, Club Mets (for those whose cancer had spread) and Breast Cancer Action Manitoba. She was an active Cancer Society peer counsellor. She acted a lead role in several presentations of "Handle With Care" a play that helped family, friends, and health professionals deal with breast cancer. In earlier years she was an avid baseball player and curler. She raced in dragon boats as a founding team member of Chemo Savvy, all breast cancer survivors. Her love, thoughts and energies went first to her family, but in recent years the members of her Metastatic Breast Cancer Support Group were added to that vital inner circle she cared for most. Her family thank and honour each of them living or passed on, for the help, love and years they in response added to Gwens life. We also thank Pastors Jeff and Carol and her entire health care team, especially her Homecare workers, the doctors and staff of St. Boniface Hospital, Jill Taylor Brown, and Dr. Sheila Domke. Flowers gracefully declined. Those who wish may support Gwens favoured causes by a donation to the V.G. Binkley Breast Cancer Fund, through the family or at Civic Credit Union (Main and Bannatyne) or give to a charity of their choice. A service to celebrate her life will be held at Transcona Memorial United Church, 209 Yale Ave. W. in Winnipeg, at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 11.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 10, 2004