Wilma SUTHERLAND

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SUTHERLAND: With family by her side, Wilma Mary Sutherland passed away on February 21, 2017 at the Palliative Care Unit in the Assiniboine Centre. She was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on July 21, 1918. Her father and an infant brother lost their lives in a fire in January 1920 which destroyed their home, known locally as `The Hermitage’, in Headingley. She attended various schools in the Winnipeg area, graduating from Gordon Bell High School in 1934. She wanted to train as a nurse but could not be accepted for a year so she took a business course at Success Business College, after which she worked as a secretary for the next 10 years. She met Walter Sutherland and they were married on July 6, 1940 before he went overseas. While Walter was overseas, she took VAD training and volunteered at Grace Hospital and the Blood clinic. The family moved to Pigeon Lake where she operated a small store and Post Office. After the closure of the Post Office and then the store, she started working as a secretary at Gordon Bell High School, where she worked for the next 25 years. During this time the family moved to St. James. After her husband’s death in 1982, Mom went to work as secretary at First Presbyterian Church for the next 16 years. In 2002, she moved to Brandon, where she made many new friends at Village Green and continued to volunteer where she could, helping with the Bingo games once a week and the Blood Pressure Clinic once a month. She was also a long time member of the Royal Canadian Legion. She is survived by her sons: Bill (Barbara) of Brandon, Manitoba and Wesley of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; two grandchildren: Rod (Lori) and Cathy (Wes); five great-grandchildren: Dustin, Christa (Derek), Adam (Meaghan), Brodie and Amanda; and, three great- great- grandchildren: Braxton, Landonand Ryker. No words can express the care and compassion she received from Dr Smith and the Palliative Care staff at the Assiniboine Centre. Their thoughtfulness and consideration during her stay is greatly appreciated. A private internment service will be held at the Chapel Lawn Cemetery in Winnipeg at a later date.

As published in Brandon Sun on Mar 04, 2017