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GWENDOLYN MCMILLAN
Born: Jan 13, 1952
Date of Passing: May 14, 2026
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryGWENDOLYN MCMILLAN
Gwendolyn Joy McMillan (née Patterson) passed away on May 14, 2026, surrounded by her family.
Born in Neepawa in 1952 and raised in Winnipeg, Gwen could find peace and happiness wherever she was, whether tending her garden, gathered around the dinner table or in the middle of her next project. Family meant everything to her, and she remained deeply connected with her siblings and their families throughout her life.
She married Gerry in 1979 in a ceremony in their living room, a fitting start to the life they created together, built around the things that really mattered and unfussed by the rest. It was a partnership that held strong until the very end.
Gwen was a down-to-earth woman who had a gift for making people feel immediately welcome and at ease. Alongside her work with Winnipeg Child and Family Services, she was the steady center of her family’s life: Always active, always supportive, always building or fixing or crafting or sewing, forever putting her creative mind to use. She and Gerry raised three daughters, Jill (Rob), Jamie (Nick) and Kate (Jeremy), along with many golden retrievers and an especially scrappy farm pup.
Gwen was a mother in the truest sense: Doting and attentive when her daughters were young and fully engaged in their lives as adults. Whether working on home improvement projects or simply lounging poolside talking and laughing about the week, her bond with her daughters was authentic and enduring. That same care extended naturally to her grandchildren - Miles, Brynn, Ben, Will and Avery - to whom Nana was a constant source of joy, the magician behind years of artisanal birthday cakes, and a cheerleader at every sports venue they played at.
Gwen never stopped adding to her life. She played ringette and golf for decades, started CrossFit in her 70s, and collected lasting friendships at every turn. She approached each new chapter with genuine enthusiasm and had a talent for finding joy and humour in ordinary moments. She shared that quality with a wide circle of friends, people who brought as much to her life as she gave to theirs.
Sunday dinners will go on. The table may feel different, but the noise and laughter and lightness she brought to it will remain.
Her family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at Riverview Health Centre for the care and comfort they provided during Gwen’s final weeks. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Riverview Health Centre Foundation, any charity for the benefit of children, or to a charity of your choice.
A celebration of life will be held on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Winnipeg.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 23, 2026
