Arlene WILEY

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WILEY: It is with great sadness we share that Arlene Janis Wiley died Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at Grace Hospital in Winnipeg, MB during a brief hospitalization following a fall at her home. Arlene, the eldest child of the marriage January 14, 1948 of Arley-Bly Mains to Gordon Walter Wiley was born January 15, 1949 in Brandon, MB. She was raised in a loving home by our Mother and Grandmother Mains from Carnduff, SK. after the 1960 legal separation of our parents. Survived by her siblings Karen Elves and Lorne Wiley and their spouses Emmett Elves and Gay Wiley, as well as three nephews, Michael (Michelle Klimczak), Robert, and Andrew (Duncan Frater) Elves she was thrilled at the arrival of her four grand-nephews Archer, Callum, Tomson and Isley Klimczak-Elves. She attended St. Michael’s Kindergarten, Central School, Earl Haig Junior High School, Brandon Collegiate Institute and Assiniboine Community College. She was active in student life and was on a winning curling team in high school. Her many hobbies included cake decorating, baking, sewing, reading, calligraphy, and entertaining. She began her working life at Great-West Life in Winnipeg but moved to the position she retired from in 2004 as Post-Graduate Administrative Assistant in the Department of Family Medicine for the University of Manitoba where she worked with Family Medicine Residents and Teaching Staff. At her retirement she was thrilled to be given an Honorary Assistant Professor Certificate. She loved her work, the residents, and their families and kept in touch with many. She enjoyed many activities and hobbies throughout her life. Church children’s programs at St. Paul’s United Church (now Central United) including attending and teaching Sunday School, Explorers, CGIT, Hi-C and Choirs. She took piano lessons at St. Michael’s and BU Conservatory of Music where she also studied voice. She performed in recitals, concerts, and festivals as well as for seniors at Fairview during her youth. She attended the local YMCA, took figure skating lessons at the Wheat City Arena and spent many winter evenings skating at Central Community Centre. Her life held many challenges including deafness, mobility problems and Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia but HCP’s, suppliers and support service providers from sales to Handi-Transit drivers, building managers and caretakers made her days easier. She returned their kindness with her cheerfulness in most encounters throughout these recent years. Arlene’s life will be celebrated Sunday afternoon 2:00 pm February 23, 2020 at St. Margaret’s Anglican Church 160 Ethelbert Street at Westminster Avenue where her family will welcome all the friends she has brought into their lives, the family members she cherished and the wonderful folk she has worked with, lived near and embraced all these years. Donations may be made in her memory to Cancer Care Manitoba, 675 McDermot Avenue, Rm ON1 160, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0V9 and Riverview Day Hospital, One Morley Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3L 2P4.

As published in Brandon Sun on Feb 22, 2020