Agnes KALMAKOFF LABELLE

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KALMAKOFF LABELLE: Agnes Mary, daughter of James and Annie (nee Tanner) Pritchard, November 12, 1925 to May 18, 2009. Mom passed away peacefully with all her children, a lot of her step-children and grandchildren by her side. A nurse commented how nice it was to see so many people with mom. Agnes was born at home in Welby, Saskatchewan. She attended school at Willowvale and Hamona schools where even from a young age, as she was learning, she was also teaching. All who wanted to learn, even those older than herself. When Agnes turned 18 she along with her cousin Philomene Tanner moved to Brandon to work. Then in 1944 she met Mike Kalmakoff. They settled in Souris and Hayfield. In the early fifties, the family then moved to Forrest where she helped on the farm, started raising her large family and still had time to drive school bus. In 1952 the family moved to Brandon on 20th Street with Bill, Jim, Vernon and Annie in tow. It was there that Sally, Michael, Kenny, Suzie and Lenny were born. Dad worked for Bradley Construction and helped build many of the roads and highways in Manitoba. Mom was at home raising the kids and making ends meet sewing, reupholstering chesterfields and baby-sitting, yet she always found time to put in a large garden. The house was always full and no one was ever turned away. Our friends always became part of the family. Mom’s siblings were always there. Relatives in those days always wintered with us. Dad died in 1963 and Mom continued on alone. In 1965 she met Phil Labelle and the family all moved to Winnipeg to join Phylis, Henry, Lydia, Edward, George and Georgina. It was there that Mom carried on the same traditions and like her Mother, she helped everybody and never complained. She walked many miles every day to clean houses and never took a bus because that would mean less money to take home to help sustain the family. Her motto was, “Have sewing machine, will travel” as she reupholstered many chesterfields in Winnipeg and Brandon. All of our clothes were mended and a lot of them hand-made. Grandchildren started coming along and she always enjoyed them like her very own. With Mom and Dad (Phil) there was always room for one more, as it had always been. The family was over-whelmed with all the people who came to pay last respects. There were many and many tears shed. Wheelers Funeral Home went above and beyond in ensuring a beautiful service. Swan Lake Hospital, Notre Dame Hospital and Boundary Trail Hospitals are thanked from the bottom of our hearts for their efforts in keeping Mom as comfortable as possible and doing all they could for her in her final months, weeks, and days. Mom held her head high. She worked hard, loved lots and tried to teach us by example how to carry ourselves. She forgave and forgot. She knew it wasn’t forgiving if you never forgot. She never held a grudge. Mom loved music. She played guitar in her younger days. The gramophone was always blaring. She sang, Kitty Wells and Hank Williams, Wilf Carter were a few of her favorites. She was totally in love with Elvis. She would show us chords on the guitar. She never got tired of singing, “It wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels”, “Old Rugged Cross”, “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder”. Mom enjoyed going to Brandon to see her son Vern’s band play, especially at the Crystal Hotel where she met and made many friends. Mom took us to church every Sunday. We all had perfect attendance for years on end, summer and winter. Mom had tons of friends, but the ones who reciprocated the most were Mrs. Long (Grace), Mrs. Smith (Pauline), and Mrs. Cooper (Gladys Cameron). They lasted a lifetime. Mom always had a chuckle because she had four babies; Lenny, George, Georgina and Denise. The family would like to especially thank Denise, Edgar and Cathy for the extra care they gave to Mom in her final years. Great-Grandma, Granny, Mom, Sister, Friend. She will truly be missed, forever. Survived by children; Bill, Jim (Charlotte), Vernon (Cathy), Sally (Sylvie), Michael (Michelle), Suzie (John), Lenny, Darlene (Tom), Denise (Edgar). Step-children; Dora (Harry Ogg), Rose-Marie (Arthur Ogg), Yvonne (Arthur Beheyt), Ernest (Denise), Irene Plomondon, Sally, Lucien (Marge), Pauline (Brant Halliday), Rita (Aimie Corbel), Teresa (Albert Corbel), Phyllis (Omer Desjardins), Lydia (Jim Murray), Henry, Edward (Jackie), George (Rosie), Georgina (John Tremblay), brothers; Clarence, Richard, and Bernard, as well as many grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Predeceased by her father James Pritchard, mother Annie, husband Mike Kalmakoff, husband Phil Labelle, son Thomas, daughter Annie, son Kenny, brothers Harry, William, Leonard, Frank, sisters Amelia and Mary, granddaughter Tina, step-son Alphonse and best friend Grace Long. Anges Labelle was laid to rest alongside husband Phil Labelle and children Annie and Kenny at Glenlawn Cemetery at 455 Lagimodiere Blvd., St. Boniface, Manitoba.

As published in Brandon Sun on Sep 05, 2009