EVELYN ROSEMARY ORPHA DOMINY

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EVELYN ROSEMARY ORPHA DOMINY
(nee MATTHEWS)
September 15, 1931 - January 30, 2023

Evelyn Rosemary Orpha Dominy passed away in Victoria on January 30, 2023, at the ripe old age of 91.
She was predeceased by her devoted husband Grant Dominy, sister Joy Stewart, and brother Frank Matthews. She will be dearly missed by her loving children, David (Diane) and Lynda, grandchildren, Rhiannon (Robert) and Andrew (Heather), and many more friends and family.
Rosemary was born in Winnipeg on September 15, 1931 to Sydney and Eleanor Matthews, in the house her father built. She was vivacious and outgoing, taught herself to play piano by ear and had a strong soprano voice, happily making her a valued member of many choirs. She attended Kelvin High School in Winnipeg, and Secretarial College, before working for Manitoba Hydro. She enjoyed skiing and horseback riding in her youth.
Rosemary met her beloved Grant on the badminton court. Joyfully married to Grant in 1956, the family took up tennis and many mixed doubles matches were played. Rosemary picked up bridge to impress Grant's boss early on and played a strong hand right up to her 91st birthday. She was openly pleased that her husband didn't intend for her to work, which she took as carte blanche to pursue a volunteer career and many creative endeavours, such as: sewing clothes, millinery, oil and watercolour painting, ceramics, quilting, crocheting and knitting to name a few, often to the benefit of others. Golf was her latest sport and she could outdrive many a man.
As a volunteer, Rosemary ran church bazaars, prayer shawl ministry, helped in altar guild especially flower arranging, and spearheaded Winnipeg Children's Hospital Research Foundation's used book sale events.
Retiring to Victoria, BC in 1987, Rosemary and Grant settled into the West Coast lifestyle in Gordon Head. She then participated with the Greater Victoria Art Gallery's "Gallery in the Schools Program" for nine years; she touched many lives. Unfortunately, her beloved was taken from her too soon, after a long battle with PSP, during which Rosemary diligently and lovingly cared for Grant. She was known for having an infectious laugh, a sharp wit, and immense love within her for others.

Mum, Grandma, Nana, Auntie, cousin and friend - your legacy lives on. We will miss you and your beautiful presence beside us and we are glad you will live on in our hearts. You can now admire the clouds to your heart's content.

A celebration of Rosemary's life will be held at St. Mary's Anglican Church at 1701 Elgin Road, Victoria, at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 25, 2023, with a reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, friends who so wish may make memorial donations directly to the Alzheimer's Society of Canada.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mccallgardens.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 11, 2023