Ellen DURSTON

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DURSTON: Ellen Kathleen passed away peacefully at the Glenboro Personal Care Home on Tuesday, October 20th, 2009 at the age of 91. Kathleen was born January 24, 1918 on the family farm at Griswold, Manitoba. She was the eldest of three girls born to Milton and Ethel Donogh. She received her schooling in Griswold and then worked at the Griswold General Store until she married Frank Durston on November 3, 1948. Together they farmed one half mile south of Griswold and in 1949 their only daughter, Elaine Kathleen was born. This kept Kathleen busy for the next nine years, at which time, it was decided to take over the local Post Office. Kathleen and Frank farmed and ran the Post Office for thirteen years until they decided to sell the farm and move to Griswold. Kathleen retired from the Post Office to babysit their two granddaughters while Elaine worked. Ill health forced Frank into the Souris Personal Care Home in 1975 and Kathleen moved to Souris to be closer to him. When Frank died in March 1980, Kathleen moved to Glenboro to be near her family and she lived there for 29 years. Kathleen’s entire life was centered around her family. She loved to spend time with her granddaughters from the time they were born until her death. She also accepted her five step-grandchildren with open arms, making all feel welcome. Kathleen had a love for baking and was generous with goodies that she created, sharing them with family and friends. She had a special talent for decorating cakes and could create anything that was asked of her. Over the years, she designed and made wedding cakes for all the grandchildren. Kathleen was also a talented seamstress, sewing all of Elaine’s clothes and her own, and later making matching outfits for the granddaughters. Kathleen’s love of music was evident until her death. As a young teenager she played the organ in Griswold United Church, then continued in both Alexander and Glenboro until her retirement at the age of 89 years. She enjoyed her music to the end, singing along on music days at the care home and sometimes playing the piano for the other residents. Even in her failing health her sense of humor and great wit was still apparent. Kathleen touched the lives of everyone who knew her in some special way. Kathleen is survived by her only daughter Elaine (Pete) Raimbault, and granddaughters Lori (Ken) Hutcheson and Trina (Curtis) Wytinck. Also left to mourn are step grandchildren Gisele (Bill) Harding, Brian (Tracey) Raimbault, Danny (Kathy) Raimbault, Marc Raimbault (Cheryl Tough), Leanne Martin (David Beskorowayny), 17 great grandchildren and 8 great-great-grandchildren. Kathleen was predeceased by her husband Frank, parents. Milton and Ethel Donogh, sisters Aileen (Tom) Johnston, Dorothy (Bev) Burford and special friend Bert Davis. Funeral services were held on Friday October 23rd, 2009 at the Glenboro United Church followed by interment in the Griswold Cemetery. Memorial donations can be made in Kathleen’s memory to the Glenboro United Church Memorial Fund, Box 623 Glenboro or to the Glenboro Volunteer Senior Enrichment Group, Box 422 Glenboro Manitoba, R0K 0X0. Jamieson’s Funeral Services of Glenboro were in care of arrangements. “Rest in peace and may God hold you in the palm of his hand, until we meet again” Your loving family

As published in Brandon Sun on Oct 31, 2009