ELSIE ROSE WILLIAMSON

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ELSIE (AMEE) ROSE WILLIAMSON It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Elsie (Amee) Rose Williamson (nee Hausegger) on November 9, 2015 after a valiant battle with cancer. Elsie was born in 1929 to Werner and Lillian Hausegger when her family lived in Beausejour, Manitoba. When she was 17 she met her future husband, Kenneth Williamson while working at the Fisher and Burpe surgical garment factory in Winnipeg. Elsie and Ken were married in 1954 in Winnipeg. Elsie is survived by her partner, Andy Soulodre (of Winnipeg), two sons John (of Sutton Ely, UK) and Michael (of Masset, BC, Canada), her sister Eva and husband Phil Barton (of Winnipeg), her brother Robert Hausegger of Calgary, her brother-in-law Jim Roy, her brother-in-law David Williamson and her five grandchildren, Emily, Erica, Trent and Devon of Stansted-Mountfitchet, UK and Damian of Masset, BC. Elsie is also survived by thirteen nieces and nephews on her side and four more on Ken's side. She was predeceased by Ken in 1994 and her sister Shirley Roy in 2007. Besides her beloved husband Ken and her two sons, Elsie's greatest love was of music. She was blessed with an angelic coloratura soprano voice which moved all that heard it. She sang with the MTC and performed many operas and operettas. Elsie also greatly enjoyed travel and foreign lands. This was fortunate indeed since Ken found work in such diverse locations as Lagos, Nigeria, Manila, the Philippines, Kathmandu, Nepal and Iqualuit, NWT. Travel gave Elsie the opportunity to literally take her music on the road. But Elsie's musical interests were much greater than classical opera and extended to folk and country music. It was with these latter genres that Elsie made her greatest and far-reaching impact. In Winnipeg she joined a group of singing guitarists called "The Good News" and in Kathmandu she formed a group called "The New Nepal Singers. However, it was in Manila that she created a group called "The Asia Minors" (steadfastly ignoring the fact that this name has nothing to do with the Philippines and actually refers to Turkey). A few years ago Elsie met a woman from Indiana, USA who was also a member of a group called "The Asia Minors". As it turns out, after she left Manila in 1974, this group spun off other groups many of which were exported to the USA. There are now many groups with over 100 singing, guitarist lady members all imbued with the love of music which Elsie originally nurtured. Sadly, Elsie was unable to attend the grand reunion (a few years ago in Kentucky) of the movement she began. More recently Elsie, Andy and their good friend Mae Stone formed a group called "One More Time" which was always in demand at senior residences across southern Manitoba. Elsie was also a member and finally led the Senior Melody Band in Winnipeg. The proceeds raised by the various musical groups she founded were donated to charity. Elsie was known to her grandchildren as Amee and will be greatly missed. Special thanks are due to Anne Barton and Mae Stone for the comfort they provided to Elsie while she was in hospital. There will be a memorial ceremony held at Elsie's favourite place, her cottage at Matlock, Manitoba in the summer of 2016. Anyone attending is encouraged to bring any photograph they may have of Elsie. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Canadian Cancer Society. THOMSON "IN THE PARK" 204-925-1120 Condolences may be sent to www.thomsoninthepark.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 14, 2015