Patricia MORNINGSTAR

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MORNINGSTAR: July 10, 1935 - November 19th, 2016. It is with much sadness and heavy hearts, but also with comfort, that the family of Patricia Louise Morningstar announce her peaceful passing. Mom had survived for over eleven years with Parkinson’s Disease and had overcome so many obstacles to remain with us for the time that she did. Mom was born Patricia Louise Gibson, the first child of Wesley and Dorothy Gibson of Hartney, Manitoba. She was followed by two sisters, Beverley Mitchell of Souris, MB and Fort Langley, BC and Donna Murphy of Virden, MB. Mom thoroughly enjoyed growing up with her sisters in Hartney despite the five-year age difference between each of the girls. Donna and Bev remember a visit not too long ago during which they engaged Mom in reminiscing about having to feed the chickens out back and Mom teaching Donna how to carry a full pail of feed without tipping over. Mom described her high school experience as a very fun time, often speaking of silly things her and her classmates had done. Following these years, Mom left Hartney for the big city of Winnipeg to attend Business School. After completing her year in Winnipeg, she moved back to Hartney where she began her career in the Bank of Montreal. While working in the bank, Mom went to Deloraine with a few friends to a dance on a Friday night and it was there that she met our Dad, Henry Morningstar. The two hit it off immediately as they both loved to dance, and suddenly it became a whirlwind romance. They were married a year later in Hartney during Dad’s Christmas Break from the University of North Dakota. A snowy white wedding was held 60 years ago this coming December 29th. Mom moved to Fargo following the wedding but would later return to Canada to await the birth of their first child, Douglas Wayne. After a short time spent in Hartney with Mom’s family, her and Doug joined Dad in Fargo and remained there until Dad graduated with his Civil Engineering Degree. Following his graduation, they settled in Brandon while Dad began working for the Department of Highways. After moving back to Brandon, their daughter Brenda Louise was born followed by another son, Wesley Roy, and a last son named David Henry. Things were never dull in the Morningstar household and once the boys learned to skate, they played hockey non-stop. Mom was at as many games as she could attend. Mom facilitated suppers around the hockey games and many nights supper was served three or four times in order to accommodate the practices and games. In addition to the ongoing hockey, Mom was very involved with Ladies Curling in Brandon and Boissevain, holding many positions on the Executive at each club. She was a strong competitor and never really liked to lose a game. One year, Mom and her team won the zone and went into Winnipeg to curl in the Manitoba playoffs. What excitement there was around this huge event in our family’s life! During the summer, we went out to the cabin as much as we possibly could. Mom and Dad had lots of friends from Boissevain, Deloraine, Brandon, Winnipeg, and other areas nearby to Lake Metigoshe so it made for some pretty enjoyable get-togethers…and lots of tricks being played on each other! After their kids started leaving home, Mom and Dad decided they would travel. They spent many years in Arizona and Texas and immensely enjoyed the dances and social life the parks’ there had to offer. They enjoyed visiting with friends from home and making new friends in other parts of Canada and the USA. During this time, they also travelled to Hawaii, Palm Springs, Mexico and several other places. After many summers at the lake spent riding in the boat being a “watcher” and water skiing herself, Mom, along with Dad, began to welcome their grandchildren to the dearly loved lake. “Grandma” was known to yell out frequent reminders to us to watch the kids, remember sunscreen or hats and, although she was always nervous around the water, we know she loved seeing the kids have so much fun. Together we enjoyed a big family meal annually on the American side of Lake Metigoshe to mark our family get-together those summers. I know the grandkids all remember these gatherings with much fondness. Mom and Dad relished every dance they attended, they absolutely loved to dance! So much so in fact that on their 40th Anniversary, we held a social and dance in their honour and on their 50th Anniversary, we again held a supper and dance in the Legion Hall. This year would have marked their 60th Anniversary so we hope they are reunited, and can dance together on December 29th in Heaven! When Dad became very ill with Alzheimer’s Disease, Mom’s world began to crumble around her. She was diagnosed herself with Parkinson’s Disease as well and between having to admit Dad into care and dealing with her own illness, the burdens became too heavy. After a brief stint at Riverheights Terrace to be close to Brenda and Ron as well as Dave and Lori, she had difficulties adjusting to the independence and went to live in Westview Lodge. Mom was then moved to Evergreen in 2013 to receive a higher level of personal care. It was there that she passed away very comfortably on the evening of November 19th. Mom was in care a long time and things only got more and more difficult for her as her disease progressed, including suffering from a fall that left her with a broken jaw bone on both sides of her face as well as a broken hip and several stitches. Although the years of being in care were difficult for Mom, she seemed to accept each day as it came. We are very relieved that Mom passed away so peacefully. We will not miss watching her suffer through the multitude of symptoms that her illness would plague her with. Mom is survived by her children, Doug (Joanne), Brenda (Ron) Cruickshank, Wes (Lana) and Dave (Lori). She is also survived by her grandchildren, Meaghan and Paige, Jason and Nicole Cruickshank, Erica, Aaron, and Lyndon, and four great-granddaughters. Mom was predeceased by Dad, Henry Morningstar in September of 2009. The family wishes to thank all the staff of Evergreen Home, Dr. Nell, Maxine Graham, the Palliative Ladies Group, and Mom’s many wonderful friends who either volunteered at the home or regularly came to visit her. I'll be the voice that whispers in the breeze.I'm peaceful now, put your mind at ease.I've rested my eyes and gone to sleep,But memories we've shared are yours to keep.Messages of condolencemay be made online at www.wheatlandfs.comSmith Funeral Home in care of arrangements 204-747-2088, 204-523-7791.

As published in Brandon Sun on Nov 26, 2016