Avice ALEXANDER

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

ALEXANDER: It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Avice Marie Alexander at the Brandon Regional Health Centre on Thursday, December 17th, 2009. Avice was born during a blizzard on the family farm on March 6th, 1922 in the Municipality of Shellmouth, near Lake of the Prairies, Manitoba. She was born the fifth of eight children to Maggie May and Robert Donaldson Hammond. She attended school at Rochdale and later Dropmore School. In 1943, Maggie Hammond died suddenly, subsequently Avice stayed at home to help raise her younger brothers and sister. Avice moved to Winnipeg to live with her older sisters and obtained a job in a dry cleaning establishment. In the evenings, the four girls would attend dances. It was at one of these dances that Avice met George Alexander. George was from Portage La Prairie and was taking a course on refrigeration repair in the city. George got a job in Brandon in 1948 at Prairie Refrigeration. On May 7th, 1949, George and Avice married. They were married at Greenwood United Church in Winnipeg. In 1960, George started his own refrigeration business. The business was run out of their home and Avice became the receptionist and bookkeeper. Avice was a member of Southminster Presbyterian Church. For many years she was the envelope secretary, a member of the choir, and the Jessie McDonald Group. Her love for her church was second only to her family. If there was any event going on at the church such as teas, suppers, garage sales and bake sales, she wanted to be the first one there to get things started and the last to leave. She liked to read the Brandon Sun. If you didn't know about something that was happening you could just phone Avice and she would know. Avice loved flowers. Each year there seemed to be more and more pots to fill with flowers that added colour and beauty to her yard. She also had a passion for dolls. She was an avid doll collector and had an entire room devoted to the numerous dolls that she had collected or received over her many years. Avice enjoyed watching many sports. She loved the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team, and tried to watch every game. She was a fan of the Brandon Wheat Kings and also enjoyed watching curling and figure skating. Avice lived a life of giving, loving and laughter. We will miss the long phone conversations, the advice and comfort. She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her daughter Lynne (Gordon) Moyer, son Marv (Therese) Alexander. Four grandchildren, Marie (Brad) Fallis, Brent Moyer and Leslee Watt of Winnipeg, Shaun Alexander and Amber Klassen, and Heather Alexander of Brandon. She is also survived by her sister Hattie (Ross) McClelland and sister Eva Jason. She was predeceased by her husband of 45 years, George Alexander, her father and mother, her sisters Nellie (Charlie) Reid from B.C., Flo (Freddie) Parmentier from Manitoba, Margaret (Harry) Ward from Ontario and brothers John and Forrest Hammond from Manitoba, her brother-in-law George Jason from Alberta, and her sister-in-law Irene (Art) Newstead from Ontario. Pallbearers were: Marv Alexander, Gordon Moyer, Shaun Alexander, Brent Moyer, Brad Fallis and Keith Hyde. All in attendance were considered honorary pallbearers. Funeral service was held at Brockie Donovan Funeral Home on Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. with Susan Le Sueur officiating. In memory of Avice, donations can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, 415-1st Street, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 2W8 or charity of your choice.Messages of condolence may be placed at www.brockiedonovan.com.

As published in Brandon Sun on Dec 26, 2009