CECIL BERESFORD LEWSEY

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CECIL BERESFORD LEWSEY October 19, 1912 - May 11, 2005 On Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at Fred Douglas Lodge, Cecil Lewsey passed away at the age of 92. Cecil was predeceased by his parents, Norman and Sarah Lewsey; brothers, Lawrence and Clarence Lewsey; sisters, Edna West and Laura Lewsey; and nephew Dennis Lewsey. Our beloved Pops will be greatly missed and dearly remembered by his remaining family and friends, his daughter Cecilia (Wolf) Finck; grandchildren, Melody Gordon and Jay Finck (along with his fiancee Bonita Cox); great-grandchildren, Chanelle and Tyree Gordon; sisters, Evelyne (Oliver) Gardner and Irene Dorrington; sister-in-law Ethel Lewsey; nephews, Lorrie (Cindy) Lewsey, Norman (Ava) Lewsey; nieces, Elaine (Doug) Reed, Faridat (Efa) Etoromo, Rise (Jack) Barrows and their families. Other family include Trudy Finck, Pete and Shirley Finck, Ralph and Gail Finck, Harold and Audrey Wodtke and families (including Cheryl See and Rick Gordon, both residing with their families in the United States). Close friends include Ray and Pat Dumontet and Marion Foulds. Cecil was born and raised in the Brooklands area of Winnipeg, on Gallagher Street and lived in the North End before moving his family to California in the late 1950s. Before retirement, he worked as a porter for the CNR in Canada and for a car dealership in California. Previously, in the depression years, he also pursued a professional boxing career that took him to various parts of the country. Pops will be remembered for his life's interests, his passion for health and fitness and his love of music, both which became strongly engrained in his character at an early age. He advocated physical exercise, proper nutrition and non-smoking to everyone he could. Throughout his years, he took every opportunity to exercise and be active, learning to downhill ski at the age of 60. Following his musical heart, he played the saxophone (and clarinet) and was a member of several bands in Winnipeg and California. He loved big band music. Our thanks to Michael, who had been Cecil's home care worker and to Gerry, who had been his community foot care nurse. Also, special thanks and our heartfelt gratitude to all the staff that cared for Cecil on Elm Unit at Fred Douglas Lodge. And a thank you to all staff and volunteers, who took the time to say hello and help Pops feel at home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of choice, Fred Douglas Lodge or the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba. Cremation has taken place, as per Cecil's request, and the immediate family will attend an urn-site ceremony at Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens, 4000 Portage Ave., which will be followed by a celebration of Cecil's life at a come-and-go reception at the same location. The reception is open to all who wish to attend on Saturday, May 21 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Arrangements entrusted to: CHAPEL LAWN FUNERAL HOME CREMATION AND RECEPTION CENTRE 885-9715 Family and friends are invited to sign the Book of Condolence at www.chapellawn.mb.ca.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 14, 2005