Cheryl ORR-HOOD

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ORR-HOOD: Cheryl Elaine Orr-Hood passed away peacefully on July 31, 2019 at Carberry Hospital with her family by her side. Cheryl was the first of four children born August 20, 1944 to Max and Jean Orr. As a child, she was involved in the 4-H Calf Club, CGIT, music lessons, student council, horses, and in grade 12 was a United Nations delegate to New York. After high school she attended U of M earning a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics. Upon graduation she moved to Brandon where she was employed with the Children’s Aid Society and then served as the Home Economist for the Brandon area. She returned to Winnipeg where she worked for the New Careers Program followed by a move to Churchill. She returned to the U of M to take her masters in Urban Planning, and then to Toronto to finish her Thesis. It was there, by baking and catering on the side to earn a living, she found her true niche. This took priority so she purchased a building on Ossington Avenue and started her own bakery “Sweet n’ Savoury Foods Inc.”. This quickly expanded into her opening a deli and bakery retail location just around the corner on Queens St. In the bakery, everything was made from scratch, and as the business expanded an 8 hour day became almost like a “day off”. In 1999, she moved back to Carberry where she worked as a dietary aid at the hospital and continued to cater events. Whatever she did, she did with passion and energy. Cheryl immersed herself in the community in Carberry working tirelessly to access grants for the Seton Centre helping to produce the building addition, the native garden area and the wolf sculpture. She also accessed grants for improvements to the old municipal office. She served as a board member for The Friends of Spruce Woods. She was instrumental in the founding of the Carberry Heritage Festival. These accomplishments resulted in her designation as 2015 Chamber of Commerce “Citizen of the Year.” Art was a huge part of her life. She served on the board of directors of MAWA as well as a term as chairperson. She was an active member of the Art Gallery of Western Manitoba and was involved with several art groups through the years, including currently “Drawn Together.” Throughout her travels and her life she was making art, teaching art, or attending art shows. Cheryl also loved to garden and share her produce with friends and family alike or to use the produce in her catering endeavors or harvest lunches. As well, Cheryl had a special love for cats; any stray was never turned away. On June 8, 2007 she married her former school classmate, Bruce Hood and Cheryl took on a new role that of a grandmother to Bruce’s grandchildren. This was a role that she relished and it gave her great joy. Cheryl was diagnosed with ALS in 2016 and faced this with incredible courage, dignity and determination. She read everything she could about the disease. She participated in studies that had them making seven trips to Montreal to further research on ALS. Despite the hardships she faced with ALS, with the help of her family and friends she published a cookbook sharing some of her favorite recipes. This was particularly challenging as typing required a small dot on her nose that acted as a mouse on a computer screen allowing her to type. The recipe book has sold 550+ copies, with the net proceeds going to ALS Society of Manitoba. This effort earned her the 2019 Rural ALS Volunteer of the year. She was predeceased by her father, Max, in 2002 and leaves to mourn husband Bruce and his family Lisa Pedlow (Scott) and Kevin (Erin), and grandchildren Caden, Dustin, Tyler and Dylan. Also to mourn her loss, her mother and best friend Jean Orr, her siblings Gerald (Linda), Brenda Nelson (Greg), Ben (Kim) and many nieces, nephews; aunts and uncles, and cousins. In her cookbook, we all have a tangible memory of Cheryl. And for those who loved her, there will always be a place in their hearts reserved for Cheryl. We are thankful that she is at peace. The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff of Home Care and the Carberry Hospital doctors and nurses for the amazing care Cheryl received. The effort they took in making her comfortable, painting her nails, styling her hair and making her laugh will never be forgotten.

As published in Brandon Sun on Sep 07, 2019