MARY KATHLEEN (MOLLIE) CURLE -

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MARY KATHLEEN (MOLLIE) CURLE 1918 - 2005 Peacefully, on January 23, 2005, at the Convalescent Home, Mollie Curle passed away at the age of 86. Mollie was predeceased in 1999 by her beloved husband Johnny. She is survived by her loving sons, Howard (Bev), Wayne (Marj) and Warren (Teri); and granddaughter Riley, all of Winnipeg; sisters, Renee Carter of Burlington, Joyce Woloski and Dorothy Park of Vancouver; sisters-in-law, Margaret Nicholls of Sarnia and Helen Woollard of Dugald; and many nieces and nephews, of whom Diane Critchley of Invermere, BC, remembers her especially fondly. Mollie was born Mary Kathleen Burrell to William and Nellie (nee Dennett) Burrell in Guildford, England, November 2, 1918. In 1921 the family moved to the Rochdale-Dropmore district of Manitoba where, having received a Soldier's Settlement for his services in the First World War, her father set to farming south of Bield. Here Mollie's sisters were born. Her memories of this time include trips to Wells' General Store in Bield, to Crawley's Bakery in Roblin and the terrible tornado of 1927. The family moved to Roblin in 1930 where her father worked in the Post Office, and the next year to Winnipeg. Mollie attended Assiniboine School and St. James Collegiate where she excelled in academics and athletics. Following a long engagement, Mollie married John William Curle in 1943 and for the remainder of the Second World War she was employed by MacDonald Bros. Aircraft Ltd. The couple lived at the Devon Court on Broadway; their first son, Howard was born in 1948. The twins, Wayne and Warren followed in 1950, born at the height of the 1950 flood. The family by then had settled into a home on Duffield St. in St. James. Here Mollie and Johnny lived for the next 49 years, participating in community life and making many friends in the Deer Lodge and Silver Heights neighbourhoods. Mollie belonged to the Deer Lodge United Church and was a member of Unit 9 of the Ladies Auxiliary. Mollie was one of the founding members of the St. James Horticultural Society and won many prizes at the annual horticultural show, especially for her exquisite flower arrangements. Mollie was also an avid 5-pin bowler. After raising her sons, Mollie was employed by Eaton's Polo Park in the jewellery and watches department. In their retirement years, Mollie and Johnny vacationed at Spruce Sands, north of Gimli. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 29 at 3:00 p.m. at Chapel Lawn Funeral Home, 4000 Portage Ave., the Rev. Don Wilson officiating. Cremation has taken place. The family extends sincere thanks to the administration and staff at the Convalescent Home of Winnipeg who took such good care of Mollie in the final period of her life. In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to make a donation to the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba, Unit 10, 120 Donald St., Winnipeg, MB R3C 4G2.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 26, 2005