LILY IRENE SEWELL

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LILY IRENE SEWELL

Lily Irene Sewell (Lily Rushforth) (nee Grouch) passed away peacefully at the Betel PCH in Selkirk on August 6, 2023, at the age of 91.



Lily was born in 1932 at Hodgson, Manitoba. She was the fifth child and only daughter of Tekla (nee Halayko) and Peter Grouch. Lily spent her childhood on her parents' farm, and her teenage years at her parents' store in Hodgson. After completing grade 11, Lily taught for a year at Eastland School. There, she met her first husband, Gordon Rushforth, who lit the fire at the school every morning. Lily finished grade 12 in Teulon, where she boarded at a United Church Girls Residence. She obtained her Teachers Degree at Normal School and completed the first year of a B. Ed. through remote learning. After three years of teaching, Lily took time off to raise her family. She then taught at Eriksdale school until her retirement in 1985.



In 1954, Lily married Gordon Rushforth and moved to a farm near Eriksdale. They raised six children together until Gordon’s death in 1974. Gordon’s passing left Lily with two children in university and four teenagers to raise alone. In 1981, Lily met Walter Sewell. Lily and Walter were married in 1983 and lived on an acreage by Mulvihill.



Lily loved to garden and planted a large garden every year. She also enjoyed knitting, sewing, crocheting and baking. Once her children grew up, Lily started volunteering. She was a 4H Leader, Mulvihill Red Cross President and Eriksdale Community Centre Treasurer. In 2003, Lily received the Golden Jubilee Commemorative Medal for volunteering with the Red Cross.



Lily is predeceased by her husbands Gordon Rushforth and Walter Sewell, her daughters Lynda Campbell and Patricia Racicot, her son Michael Rushforth and her grandsons David Campbell and Richard Racicot. She is survived by her daughter Shirley Guinn (Brent); her sons Allan Rushforth and Tim Rushforth; her grandchildren John Campbell (Tanushree), Aaron Guinn (Karen), Tara Guinn (George), Ashley de Monye (Andrew), Michelle Racicot and Rachel Wiebe (Justin); and eight great-grandchildren.



A service will be held in Eriksdale Recreation Centre at 11:00 A.M. on September 22, 2023. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Canadian Red Cross.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 12, 2023