EDWARD BRUCE PARKER

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EDWARD BRUCE PARKER January 2, 1947 - July 29, 2004 Bruce Parkers family announce his sudden, peaceful, passing on Wednesday, July 29, 2004. The family invite his colleagues and friends to join them in a celebration of his life on Tuesday, August 3 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Andrews United Church on the corner of Kingsway Avenue and Oak Street. Bruce was an oxymoron. A sometimes gruff, businesslike manner masked a much gentler, compassionate disposition. This compassion and propensity for doing what was right is a quality that his family admired, felt deeply, and will miss greatly. He was a cornerstone, the rock, of a family journey that has been served up many twists and turns, and he has fostered in each member, a continued commitment to support one another on this path. Bruce was committed to his community. His community efforts began in his youth, initially, perhaps, not by choice; he became involved in a youth outreach program operated through Knox United Church. It was here, working with other youth that Bruces leadership qualities surfaced. He would become president of Kelvin during his high school years and senior stick (president) of the student association during his time at the University of Winnipeg. Bruce chose law as his career, and for his entire professional career practiced with Aikins MaCaulay and Thorvaldson. He had a deep regard for the status this afforded him and used his position to continue to support the many communities with which he was associated. A few of the associations that brought him deep satisfaction were Riverview Community Centre where his daughters, Lindsay and Jessica, were actively involved in the sports programs, Villa Rosa which allowed his continued support for community youth, and the United Way. Bruce loved to fish. His years spent at Lake of the Woods would manifest the joy he discovered in a man in a boat on the water. Later, he would take this passion with him to Mexico. An extreme love of Mexico, the landscape, and the people was nurtured in Bruce through the numerous family vacations and fishing trips taken in Mexico. He again would turn this connection into an opportunity to use his professional skills and turn his passion into a commitment, becoming the honorary representative of the Mexican Consul in Manitoba. Bruce wished the family to express his deep gratitude for the serenity he had found over the last eight years of his life, which he acknowledged as a true gift from God brought to him through AA. He did speak of his departure and let those closest to him know that if the path he had to take would be the shorter, rather than the longer he would be leaving peaceful and fulfilled. For each of you who contributed to this peace the family is grateful. Bruce is survived by his loving wife Lourdes, who contributed greatly to the recent contentment he had found; his loving daughters, Lindsay and Jessica ("Well miss you Pops") and their mother Cindy; his siblings, Ian (Jacqueline), Brian, Wendy (Fred), Shirley (Ernie), Linda (Raffaele) sister-in-law, Debbie Whitney; and 11 nieces and nephews. His father, Hugh; mother Beverly; and brothers, Casey and Ben predeceased him. The family extends their sincere gratitude to those that supported Bruce and provided medical care during his illness. In keeping with his wishes, in lieu of flowers, to celebrate Bruces life the family encourages anyone who desires to make a donation to an organization that is meaningful for them, or any of the organizations with which he was personally involved. NEIL BARDAL INC. 949-2200

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 31, 2004