GWYNETH MARY THOMPSON (HAWKINS)

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GWYNETH MARY THOMPSON (nee HAWKINS) Peacefully, on April 28, 2014, after a short illness, Gwyneth passed away at the Riverview Personal Care Health Centre. Mum was predeceased by her father Harry in 1961, and mother Mary in 1994. She is survived by her son Christopher, daughter Debbie (Mike and grandson Jacob), and Timothy (Carolyn). Mum was born in Shanghai, China on September 12, 1934 to an English banker and a Welsh nurse. She spent her childhood in Shanghai and England and in South Africa during the Second World War. Her most vivid memory of the war years was the trip she made in 1940, as a six-year old girl, from her boarding school in England, by convoy across the Atlantic, and then by train across Canada to meet up with her mother in Vancouver, after which the two sailed back across the Pacific to the far east. Returning to England in 1944, she completed her schooling at the Roedean School in Brighton, where she excelled at sports, especially swimming and tennis. From the earliest days onward she especially loved dancing. In the 1950s, Mum worked in London as a secretary at St. Thomas' Hospital and then as the assistant to the head of the Church Missionary Society. There she met her future Canadian husband, Arthur, while he was pursuing doctoral research at Cambridge. They married October 1, 1960 in Croydon, England. In 1962 they moved to Canada with a son, Christopher in tow, followed by a daughter Deborah born in Toronto and a second son, Timothy, born in Kingston. The family moved to Winnipeg in 1969, where Mum spent the rest of her life. Like many women of her era, she found fulfillment in her family. Her children and grandchild Jacob were her greatest delight. Mum never failed to treat others with love and compassion. She took part in volunteer work such as the Meals-on-Wheels program, and during her final years at Riverview, was always eager to meet new members of the long-term care facility. We thank all of the staff at Riverview for the wonderful care and attention that they provided Mum in her final home. A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 4 at Thomson "In the Park" Funeral Home, 1291 McGillivray Blvd. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Riverview Health Centre, One Morley Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3L 2P4. THOMSON "IN THE PARK" 204-925-1120 Condolences may be sent to www.thomsoninthepark.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 03, 2014