JANE BARKER HAWKES KEAY (PATERSON)

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JANE BARKER HAWKES KEAY (nee PATERSON) At her home on Sunday, September 19, 2004 Born January 30, 1915, to James and Alice Paterson of William Avenue, Jean grew up in Winnipeg. She was active in sports and especially enjoyed horseback riding. She worked for the T. Eaton Company in Winnipeg and rose to the position of Chief Copy Editor in the catalogue department. Jean married Hugh Keay in 1951 and they moved soon after to Toronto, returning to Winnipeg in 1960. She settled in Transcona and built a wide circle of friends through volunteer work as a longtime member of the Kiwanis Club. Most of her family and relatives lived nearby and they had many years of happy times together. Jean and her sisters were accomplished piano players and music was a large part of every family gathering. Through her retirement, Jean remained active in seniors clubs and continued to touch everyone with her wonderful attitude, celebrating the little things in life and proudly enjoying her independent lifestyle. Kind and gracious, she always considered others ahead of herself. Her love of animals was well known and Jean adopted many stray and injured pets and made them part of her family. Jean delighted in her son James family and was especially proud of grandchildren Lindsey and Michael, taking delight in their accomplishments and thinking of them constantly. She also admired and took inspiration from her brother Dave of Vancouver. Jean was predeceased by her parents, James and Alice Paterson; her great-aunt Louise; sisters, Mary (Gus) Bilodeau and Edna (Tony) Myska; her husband Hugh; and niece Anne Rand, all of Winnipeg. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, James and Irene and their children, Lindsey and Michael of Texas. She is also survived by her brother David (Mary) Paterson; and niece Susan (Ken) Eberhardt and family of Vancouver; nephews, Robert (Barbara) Bilodeau, Dave (Brenda) Myska; niece Barbara Bilodeau and their families; in-laws, Koji and Shigeko Sato of Winnipeg, and Jane Keay and family in the Ottawa area. Jean will be dearly remembered for her wonderful spirit, compassion and love of life. She found enjoyment in everything she did and everyone she met. Jean set a remarkable example for her family to celebrate and live by, and we are all very grateful for her time with us. A private family service and interment took place Friday, September 24 at Green Acres Cemetery. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Jeans favorite charity, the Winnipeg Humane Society, 5 Kent St., Winnipeg, MB R2L 1X3. GREEN ACRES Funeral Home and Cemetery Hwy. No. 1 E. at Navin, 1-204-925-1120

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 25, 2004