ISABELLA STEKMAN

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

ISABELLA STEKMAN (nee BROWN) October 24, 1927 - March 3, 2017 Peacefully, on Friday, March 3, 2017, at the Seven Oaks General Hospital, Bella Stekman passed away at the age of 89 years. Isabella is survived by her children, Marion (Don) Petersen, Bill (Betty), Art (Cindy) and Sandra (Joel) Westman, grandchildren, Wayne Petersen, Jeffrey, Lindsay and Julie Stekman, Christina, Vanessa, Andrew and Marissa Westman, great-grandchildren Carter, Reid and Brynn Stekman, and also grandchildren, Richard Lavoie, Peter Lavoie, Susan Horn, Lynn Tremblay and their families, sister Betty Connell, and brother George Brown. She was predeceased by her husband Raymond (Ray), parents William and Marion Brown, sisters Chrissie and Maisie, brothers, Jimmy, Johnny and Billy, grandson Shawn Petersen, and great-granddaughter Meaghan Tremblay. Isabella was born in Coalburn, Scotland and moved to Lesmahagow, Scotland at the age of three months. In 1936, at the age of eight the family moved to Glasgow. There, she worked as an usherette at the Argyle Cinema, coming home to re-enact scenes from some of the movies for her siblings, singing and dancing the numbers for their enjoyment. During this time she met her future husband Ray while he was on leave in Scotland. They married in April 1946 and she came to Canada as a war bride in September 1946 crossing the ocean on the Lady Rodney. After living in a large city in Scotland she settled in Canada living in many isolated places with no amenities. She adapted quite well to this type of living. She taught her two oldest children by correspondence until they moved to Rennie, MB where there was a school. She was a good neighbour always willing to lend a hand or an ear. She babysat and became close to many of her charges guiding them during their growing years and was known as a "Friday Mom" to some. She loved bingo and card games and especially enjoyed the latter playing with her brothers Billy and George and sister Maisie during their visits, and then later with her grandchildren. She was a talented knitter and was known for her sweaters and her homemade cookies and bread. She was always ready to speak up and defend anyone being picked on and she wouldn't hesitate to speak her mind. She had a sense of humour and loved to tease and always had a joke or two to pull out of her purse. Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, March 20, 2017 at Glen Lawn Funeral Home, 455 Lagimodiere Blvd. Interment will follow at Glen Lawn Memorial Gardens. Viewing will be held a half hour prior to the service. Thank you to Sylvia (Peter) Goodman for your special friendship with our mom. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association or to a charity of one's choice. Family and friends wishing may sign a Book of Condolence at www.glenlawn.ca Glen Lawn Funeral Home 204-982-7550

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 11, 2017