EVELYN ROSE GILLANDER

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EVELYN ROSE GILLANDER

With sadness, we announce Evelyn’s passing at her home, on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. Evelyn was born at home in Parkerview, Saskatchewan, on August 17, 1933, arriving 15 minutes before her twin sister, Eleanor.



Evelyn was raised in Parkerview, until rooming in Yorkton, Saskatchewan to complete grades 10 to 12. After graduating high school at age 16, she moved to Manitoba to teach on permit. After both she and her brother Frank had completed their education at Normal School in Winnipeg, they were hired to teach together at Elva, Manitoba, where she met her husband, Bob.



Evelyn lived for her music. She learned to play acoustic guitar and her first paying performance was at the age of 12 with her siblings. She bought a Les Paul Special electric guitar in 1963, playing that guitar for the rest of her life. Her final performance was two weeks ago, with her dear friends Dorothy Granger, Brian Granger, and Kathy Deis.



Evelyn is survived by her three children Heather Lynn Gillander and her sons, Scott, Andrew and Paul Johnston; Blaine Gillander; and Jami Jacobson and her husband Jeff and sons Jesse and Luke. She is also survived by her twin sister, Eleanor Wowk and daughter Arlyne; sister-in-law Floreen Basiuk and children Wendy, Dean (Debbie), Lonnie (Melissa), Kevin, Cory (Susan) and Jody Excel; Henry’s daughter Loretta Basiuk, and son-in-law Ken Harder; Frank’s children Bob (Josephine), Karen (Ken) Barrows, and Grant (Suzanne). Evelyn is also survived by her in-laws; brother-in-law John Gaylord Gillander, his sons Gary and Bob (Eleanor); Jim’s children Debra (Wayne) Braun, David (Qui), and Tim; and Joyce’s daughters Lisa, Wendy (Brian Creamer), Susan (Keith Beilman) and Linda (Kevin) Waldern. There are also numerous great nieces and great nephews on both sides of the family.



Evelyn was predeceased by her husband Robert Gillander in 2016, her father John Basiuk and mother Rosalie (nee Hajavitch); her brother Henry, wife Lena (nee Dareichuk), daughters Valerie Harder and Cynthia (infant); brother Joseph; brother Frank and wife Thelma (nee Banks); and brother-in-law Walter Wowk. She was also predeceased by her father-in-law James Gillander, mother-in-law Elizabeth Mary Gillander (nee Reid); sister-in-law Joyce Mackie; brother-in-law Jim Gillander and his wife Nadine (nee Wilkinson) and their daughter Kathie Weiss and son Reid Gillander; and sister-in-law Shirley Gillander (nee Innes) and son John.



Mom played with many musicians during her lifetime, resulting in lasting friendships, including with Dorothy and Brian Granger, Kathy Deis, Ada McBride, Marla Winters, and Pearl Carnahan. Her close friendship with Donna Davis started in Dauphin in the 1960s. Mom also had very special relationships with her niece Loretta Basiuk and her nephew David Gillander and his wife Qui.



Thank you to all the people who have provided so much assistance, support and treatment to Mom on her lengthy journey with cancer. She really appreciated the care she received from Dr. Vlok and Dr. Du Plooy through her diagnosis and treatment, and was grateful for the compassion and care she received from Dr. Adrian Fung and Joe Ball at the end of her life.



The funeral service will be held at Trinity United Church, 1515 6th Street, Brandon, MB., on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. Interment at the Melita Cemetery will take place at a later date.



In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to the Canadian Cancer Society, Box 640, Station K, Toronto, ON, M4P 9Z9 or the Humane Society, 2200 17th Street East, Brandon, MB, R7A 7M6.

Arrangements in care of Redpath Funeral Home, Melita, MB. (204) 522-3361

Neil Redpath and Kurt Ardron – Funeral Directors.



Condolences: www.redpathfuneralhome.com

As published in Brandon Sun on Nov 14, 2023, Nov 14, 2023