JEAN ELIZABETH SIGURDSON -

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JEAN ELIZABETH SIGURDSON 1943 - 2005 After a gracious and valiant struggle with the challenge of health problems, Jean passed away peacefully on March 19, 2005. She was surrounded by her loving family. Jean will be sadly missed by so many who cherished her cheerful nature and selfless disposition. She is survived by her husband Eric; sons, Jon (Annette), Leif (Monique), Lars (Allie) and Kristian (Naru) and grandson Hayden; siblings, Kathy (Brian), Sandy (Marion), Eleanor and Isabel (Gary) and their families as well as her chosen siblings, John and Margaret Taylor, Larry and Barb Cassin, Grant and Charlotte Reid and Ryan and Betty Kustra. Left to mourn is a large extended family as well as friends from far and wide, each one of whom treasured her special love and affection. Jean was born April 19, 1943 in Winnipeg to John and Betty Morton. She grew up in a loving family surrounded by music, song and dance. She graduated as the Gold Medalist from Psychiatric Nursing at Selkirk Mental Hospital where she began her nursing career. In 1967 she joined Canadian University Services Overseas and excelled in Ghana as a clinical nursing instructor. In 1969 she returned to Winnipeg to work at MacDonald Youth Services. She married Eric Sigurdson the next year. Some of the best years were in Dauphin, working with love and dedication to raise her sons, help in Eric's career and later return to serve as a community mental health worker (CMHW) for children in the Parkland region. In those years she spent many happy hours cheering on her boys at hockey rinks and baseball diamonds, walking her Irish Setter and Siberian Husky and relaxing with the family in Gimli. The family moved to Winnipeg in 1986 and she worked at the Manitoba Adolescent Treatment Centre and the Department of Health where she guided the development of the rural CMHW program. Jean was a member of the Manitoba Government Employees Union for 19 years and volunteered as secretary for the Registered Psychiatric Nurses Association of Manitoba. Recently she was thrilled to become an Amma for the first time and delighted in telling others about her charming new grandson. Jean had a boundless curiosity about the world and a genuine concern for others. She loved to travel and meet new people and always made time for conversation with longtime friends and family. She was an excellent cook and liked nothing better than treating others to one of her wonderful home-cooked meals. No matter what your relation to Jean you could count on her generous spirit. She listened to all with a knowing mind and a caring heart, providing dignified and valued support to those who sought her help. The family would like to extend their gratitude to the nurses, physicians and hospital staff at the Health Sciences Centre for their compassionate care and support. A celebration of Jean's life will be held at Westminster United Church at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 26. Cremation has taken place. Memorial donations may be made to MacDonald Youth Services, Winnipeg or the Dauphin Regional Health Centre. Where there is love, there is life. Mahatma Gandhi BASIC CREMATION SERVICE 475-2100

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 23, 2005