LAURA PRITCHARD

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LAURA PRITCHARD With the death of Laura Ethelwyn Pritchard (nee Baker) on the evening of June 10, 2005 at Salem Personal Care Home in Winkler, MB our family has lost a living link with 97 years of Manitoba history. Laura was born January 1, 1908 at the family home in Crystal City, third child of Wesley Baker and Elizabeth (Werry) Baker. Following public school in Crystal City and Normal School in Manitou she began a teaching career that took her to several one-room schools across southern Manitoba. In 1935 she left the last of these positions at Utopia School just north of Roland when she married Ernie Pritchard, a local farmer. Left with warm memories of this exceptional woman are her daughter Joan and son-in-law Barry McConnell; her grandchildren, Kathi (Scott), Sherri, Kevin (Paul) and Jeff (Margaret); great-grandchildren, Rhiannon McConnell-Hore; Signy, Johann and Bjorn Kristjanson, and Beth and Alex McConnell; niece Donna and nephew Ross Pritchard, their children, Deanne (Rennie), Michelle and Stephen (Anna); and great-great niece Haley Robinson. She is also survived by many other nieces and nephews and several very special long-time friends. She was predeceased by her husband Ernie in 1978. Laura took an active part in her church and community for many years and valued the friends and neighbours who surrounded her. In 1979 she moved from the family farm to Roland and enjoyed living there in her house until 1998. At that time she made the decision to move again to an apartment in Roland. There she resided until 2003 with the support of wonderful homecare workers. Failing health resulted in six months in Carman Memorial Hospital and then a final move to Salem Personal Care Home, Winkler in January, 2004. A very special thank-you to all the staff of Salem who treated her with respect, tenderness and love. A service of celebration for this long life well-lived will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 18 in Roland United Church with Reverend Harry Ritchie officiating. A time of fellowship and lunch will follow in Roland Memorial Hall. Flowers are gratefully declined. For those who wish, donations may be made in Laura's memory to the Mission Service Fund of the United Church of Canada, 3250 Bloor Street West, Etobicoke, ON. M8X 2Y4. (Envelopes available at the service.)

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 15, 2005