TERRANCE GEOFFERY OSBORNE

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TERRANCE GEOFFERY OSBORNE

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Terrance Geoffery Osborne after a very short battle with brain cancer. He passed peacefully with family by his side at Riverview Palliative Care. Terry was 66 years old.
He is survived by his daughter Erin Osborne; sister Mavourneen Worobec; girlfriend Joan Patenaude; brother-in law Lowell Gallagher (Jay Geller); nieces, Brandy Williams (Steven Hamblin) and Wendy Worobec; nephews, Greg Worobec, and Brian Worobec (Evangeline); great-nieces, Taylor Worobec (Travis Flathers), Trista Worobec, Angelina Worobec and Zara Worobec; great-nephews, Steven Worobec (Michelle), Teagen Worobec, and Brandon Abel; great-great-niece Fallon Flathers, great-great-nephews, Soren Flathers and Rowan Flathers; as well as many close friends. He is predeceased by his wife Alice Osborne; parents, Ed and Betty Osborne; father and mother-in-law, James and Bernadette Gallagher; sister Dawn Williams; brother John Osborne; and nephew Steven Worobec.
Terry was born in Fort St. John, BC, and spent his childhood moving around as his father was posted at various airports around Canada. The final move was to Winnipeg where his father retired. Terry attended Kildonan East Collegiate and excelled in electronics. Terry became a Journeyman electrician and worked on various buildings around Winnipeg, including Polo Park and Portage Place malls. At the age of 39 Terry suffered a brain injury as a result of a fall from a ladder on a construction site. The injury meant that he was unable to continue working. He found a new purpose volunteering at Meadowood Manor Personal Care Home in the maintenance department. He spent the better part of two decades there, making a lasting impression and several good friends. His volunteering also opened up an opportunity for his daughter, Erin, to be a summer student working in the recreation department. It was there she found her passion for working with seniors and pursued a career as a Recreation Facilitator for older adults, which she has been doing for the last 17 years.
Terry met his wife Alice on a plane returning to Winnipeg from the UK. Bold as ever, he asked for her number after just a few hours of chatting through the flight and they married just over a year later. Eight years later at the age of 29, he welcomed his daughter, Erin, into the world. In the early years they were incredibly close. Terry’s brain injury made life challenging for the family, however, the father-daughter relationship started to blossom again once Erin moved out. It became even stronger with the passing of his wife Alice, as the two had only each other. Terry was extremely proud of the work she did at the care home, her singing, and her artistic hobbies.
In January of 2022 he met Joan after answering an ad on the community website asking for help fixing an antique lamp. Being an electrician with lots of time on his hands he answered the ad and began an easy friendship with Joan. It was clear early in their relationship that they had something special. Four years after losing his wife, Terry met another person to love and fill that loneliness. Joan and her family welcomed him and his daughter with open arms, and just like that, the two felt whole again.
Joan was amazing in his final weeks. With the help of his sister, Mo, they cared for Terry in Joan’s home until the very last moment they could. The love they shared was clearly visible and felt. The only regret he had was that he wouldn’t have more time with her, a regret his daughter shared. However, he was happy in the knowledge that he left his daughter with a loving new family, ensuring that she would not be alone when he was gone. Joan was a light in Terry’s life and brought back his enthusiasm for life after losing Alice. He said he never thought he would love again, and then Joan changed everything.
A come and go Celebration of Life reception will be held at Thomson In the Park Funeral Home on Sunday November 19, 2023, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. A private family and close friends’ interment at St. Boniface Cemetery will take place in the spring of 2024.
Terry’s family would like to thank the staff at the Riverview Palliative care unit for the care they gave Terry. In particular, his nurse, Kat, whose kindness, and compassion in caring for Terry and the family in his last days was so appreciated. She always took the time to talk us through things and was a gentle support in the last days and moments of his life, and as he passed. Our interactions with her made us all feel at ease and we thank her so much for everything she did for us. We would also like to thank his GP, Dr. M.L. Cummings, for taking such above and beyond care of Terry in those final weeks. Finally, we would like to thank Aaron Bowskill, of Thompson In the Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, for taking such good care of the family during such a difficult time, both with Terry now, and six years ago with Alice. Knowing we had his help again removed so much stress. We can’t thank him enough for his kindness, compassion, and dedication.
In lieu of flowers. donations can be made to Golden West Centennial Lodge Recreation Department. This is where his daughter, Erin, works and he was so very proud of her work there. Donations directed to the recreation department there will help her and the other recreation facilitators provide ongoing quality of life care for seniors at the end of their lives. In particular, the purchase of a portable projector and screens to provide programming “on the big screen” on each unit, including movies, trivia and games.

Tributes: www.thomsoninthepark.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 10, 2023, Nov 11, 2023