AMANDA MARIE EULALIE DAWSON

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AMANDA MARIE EULALIE DAWSON (née D'AVIGNON) Amanda Dawson, who has died aged 82, was an endlessly-giving mother and devoted wife. Her life was unremarkable except to those who knew her. Born in 1932 to Edouard and Bernadette D'Avignon of Transcona, Mrs Dawson was the second eldest of nine brothers and sisters. After moving as a child to St Boniface with her family, she attended St Joseph's Academy. Mrs Dawson's facility with numbers and her imposing organizational abilities inclined her towards employment as a bank teller at Winnipeg's Great West Savings. In 1956, she married Donald Dawson after they had lived across from one another on rue St Jean Baptiste during their teenage years. Chiefly through Mrs Dawson's prudent household management, the couple soon bought a comfortable bungalow in Windsor Park. In 1963, their only son, Robert, was born. Mrs Dawson's life then entirely centred upon caring for her immediate family, meticulously tending house, unfailingly supporting her husband's advancing career, and especially indulging and encouraging their son. She enjoyed bowling, reading biographies of famous women, and knitting. In 1983, Mrs Dawson's husband separated from her, inflicting a profound trauma from which she never truly recovered. Attempting to rebuild herself, she pursued studies in French literature at the University of Manitoba and later returned to the workforce in secretarial positions. The darkening shadow of dementia obscured Mrs Dawson's retirement years, but, since 2007, she found an additional family to care for her at Centre Taché until she died on 20 March 2015. Left to mourn are her son, Robert; her brother and sisters, Dora Pambrun, Doris Perrin, Jeannette Roytenberg, Ilaine Dymont, and Maurice D'Avignon; and many nephews and nieces. A funeral mass and interment have already taken place. E.J. COUTU & CO. FUNERAL DIRECTORS 204-253-5086

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 26, 2015