LEE PEARSON

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LEE PEARSON

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the sudden passing of our mom and grandma, Lee Pearson, surrounded by family on October 29, 2023.

Lee leaves to mourn her daughter Karen (Chris Reynaga), her favourite son Eric (Crystal Pescitelli), daughter Lisa Noble (David); her beloved grandchildren, Fynnley (Carly) and Petra, and their mother Meagan Fiddler; Crystal’s daughters, Isabelle, Ava, and Lainy; brother Rick McMichael, niece Samantha, and great-nieces, Charlotte and Matilda; nieces, Megan Chute (Dave) and Janet Martin (husband Jon, sons, Max and Luke); special cousins, Janice (Paul) McAlister, Kathy (Doug) Smallwood, and Jane McMichael; as well as cousins and friends too numerous to mention.

Lee was predeceased by her husband Ivan, parents, John and Viola McMichael, sister Clare McMichael, brother Chuck McMichael, brother Ronald McMichael and sister-in-law Catherine McMichael, sister-in-law Helen McMichael, father-in-law Robert Sedgwick, and best friend since high school Wendy Brodack.

Carolyn Lee Ann McMichael was born in Port Arthur, Ontario on October 14, 1946. She graduated from Hillcrest High School in 1964, returning to complete grade 13. After high school, she apprenticed with Paul Anttila to learn the accounting business. She said she learned more from Paul than she ever would have at school.

It was while doing work for one of Paul's clients in 1969 that Lee met Ivan Pearson (she said she always had a weakness for blue-eyed blondes), and they married November 28, 1970. Lee and Ivan had three children: Karen, Eric, and Lisa. Lee's children were extremely important to her, and she was a stay-at-home mom until 1981. She took great care of us, and we were truly blessed to have her as a mom. Mom tirelessly drove us to baseball games, Scouts, Girl Guides, and visits with friends. She was always the loudest one cheering on Fynn and Petra at swim meets and water polo games.

In 1976, Lee and Ivan moved to Selkirk, Manitoba with Karen and Eric. On her very first day in town, she met Pat Narynski, and a few days later, Lindsay Timlick. They instantly became lifelong friends. It was always a riot to listen to the three of them together. In 1981, Lee went to work with Coopers and Lybrand (which became PWC) and worked there until she retired in 2011. After retirement she continued to do contract work for PWC and also started her own accounting business. She worked until the time of her passing.

Mom's faith was very important to her. She was a member of Notre Dame parish for 47 years, serving as an usher at Saturday mass for many years, and sitting on the parish finance council for the last 14 years up until her passing.

Nothing was more important to Mom than her family. Even though her kids and grandkids were all grown, she still worried about us all and showed her love by looking after us. One of the best examples of that was one particularly icy January when her kids all mysteriously had new winter tires after taking vehicles for an oil change. She denied having anything to do with it and said the tire fairy must have paid us all a visit. She always hugged everyone, made sure we never went hungry, asked if we had enough money, and made us take a sweater if she was cold. Mom was known for always cooking enough food for twice as many people as were expected and made a point of making everyone's favourite dishes. Her meatballs were famous. Ross Williamson, whom she considered her second son, always half-jokingly said that he wouldn't show up unless there were meatballs. At Thanksgiving and Christmas, everyone ate as little turkey as possible in order to leave more leftovers for her legendary turkey pies.

Lee treasured the gifts she received from her family. The walls of the house are a testament to how important her family and friends were to her, with every available surface displaying 20 plus years worth of photos, and particularly the artwork made by her grandchildren and extended family. She was especially proud of the artwork made by talented Petra, such as the portrait she painted of Gramma and the bookmark she drew and painted in a few hours on Gramma's birthday last year.

Lee loved her extended family as well and was often the instigator of trips to surprise family members on their birthdays or making up reasons to get together with her cousins and other family members.

Lee loved travelling and took many trips over the years with family and special friends.

Thank you to the paramedics and the staff in the emergency department at Selkirk Regional Hospital, especially nurse Rex and Dr. Costa Danakas. Their kindness and compassion during those difficult few hours were greatly appreciated. A huge thank you to Father Gerald Langevin for visiting the hospital and providing comfort to the family in Lee's final moments.

In keeping with Lee’s wishes, the family kindly requests no flowers, please. If you so desire, please make a donation to a charity of your choice or use the money to help someone in need.

Funeral mass will be held Saturday, November 4, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Notre Dame Parish in Selkirk, Manitoba. Father Gerald Langevin presiding. Following the funeral there will be a private family ceremony to inter the ashes. Lunch and coffee to follow.

Gilbart Funeral Home, Selkirk in care of arrangements.

Tributes: www.gilbartfuneralhome.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 01, 2023