Jean WALSH

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WALSH: Jean Mary, passed away peacefully April 29, 2019 at the Cottage Care Home in Abbotsford, BC. Jean was born on June 6, 1927 in Brandon, Manitoba to Louis and Anne Walsh. Jean was predeceased by her parents, and her sister, Margaret Walsh. She leaves behind her sisters, Minnie Gordon, and Helen Proudlock. Jean lived the life she set out to have. At 17, she joined the Jo-Ann Shop in Brandon, Manitoba and single handedly ran the shop doing the merchandising and servicing her clients as if they were all her closest friends. She travelled often to Montreal and Toronto to scout out the best fashion and quality the store could manage. She had clients come by just to look at the window displays, in grandeur. Pride and professionalism at every turn, she herself was nothing short of the picture of perfection, whether it be her shoes, nails, hair or clothes. Many comments have been made that she had ”superb good taste and superb good looks, a real lady”. She went on to Yorkton, Saskatchewan and opened a second store under the same ownership, Joy Frocks. After 40 years, she retired from her career in 1984 and then set out to do what retired career women do, travel and hobbies. She moved to Abbotsford, BC where she lived with her dear, close friend, Daphne Marshall and they lived the retired life together. They were always off somewhere travelling the world and entertaining in style. Jean had taken painting classes and did very well at it. I met them in the late 1980’s and they soon became commonplace in my household with my husband and two children who knew them as grandmothers. Jean loved and cared deeply and my family has been blessed to be the recipient of this remarkable woman. My life has been made so much better because of the effect she had on me. She loved us unconditionally, and I loved her dearly. She leaves a huge sadness in my heart, with her passing, but with beautiful memories that will never die. She lived 91 long, great, successful years, and her passing is bittersweet. A LADY TO THE VERY END

As published in Brandon Sun on May 11, 2019