It is with great sadness that the family announces the sudden passing of Eileen Bain, on November 15, 2021, at the age of 78 years.

 

Eileen will be lovingly remembered by her daughter Cathie (Ryan); son Michael; and sisters, Rose (Milt) and Maureen (Rick). She will be dearly missed by her niece and nephews, Shane, Scott, Curtis, Shannon, and Craig.

 

Eileen was the oldest of three girls and a much-loved daughter to Harry and Marjorie Brooks. 

​

Eileen worked at Eaton’s Department store for several years, and then moved on to work at the Manitoba Telephone System for many years.

​

Eileen loved working on crafts and had many hobbies. One of Eileen’s hobbies was doing needle work. She was extremely talented with her hands and would spend hours creating beautiful Petit Point pictures. Once framed, these were truly “works of art”.

​

Eileen had a true sense of adventure and loved to travel. In 2007, Eileen went on a solo “around the world” cruise where she saw and experienced things that she would talk about and share, with such excitement and enthusiasm. It was fun to travel the world with her, through her stories. 

​

Eileen truly loved all animals and rescued many over the years. She adopted several, taking them home, where they were loved and cared for. Birds, dogs, cats and bunnies…she welcomed them all.  It was therefore no surprise when Eileen decided to volunteer at the Winnipeg Assiniboine Park Conservancy. She loved the time she spent there and often told us, “It was her happy place”. Eileen was confined to a wheelchair because of a stroke and put many miles on her electric wheelchair at the Zoo.

​

________

 

Shaun Leonoff, (Manager of Volunteer Resources at Assiniboine Park Conservancy), wrote this about Eileen…

​

 “Eileen has always been one of our rock star volunteers. She was always so dependable and positive about everything, and totally honest about what she observed. Her fellow volunteers, Zoo staff and leadership team, were very upset to hear the news of her passing.”

​

________

​

The following message was sent out to the volunteers and staff of the Assiniboine Park Conservancy.

​

"One of our long-time volunteers, Eileen Bain, passed away suddenly last week.  She worked many long shifts in her scooter, happily working wherever we posted her. Eileen worked eleven shifts at Boo at the Zoo last month, several SES evenings, as well as all her regular ambassador shifts in the zoo during the summer. 

​

She started at APC in 2015 and has volunteered in every position, and at every special event over the years.  Eileen loved the heavy horses and one of her favorite activities was to watch the farrier.  Keeper Sara always let Eileen know when the farrier was scheduled to be on site and Eileen would make a special trip to the zoo to see her beloved horses getting their new shoes.  She would volunteer at the Education Zoo sleepovers, scooting around with the kids all evening."

​

________

​

We will all miss her great sense of humor as well as her dedication to APC. 

​

Eileen was a friend to everyone and we feel like there is a hole in our volunteer family with her passing."

 

Her family in Calgary will miss Eileen this Christmas. She had purchased a plane tickets to Calgary, but her travel plans were altered, taking her instead to Heaven. We are certain that there was a great celebration when she arrived, and that she was warmly welcomed by Jesus and by her parents. Although we will miss her dearly, we know she is in a much better place. She is now “running” on new legs and a healed body, and happier than we can ever imagine.

​

 Revelation 21:4 says…

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning, or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

 

The family encourages the sharing of stories, and your memories by using the comment section on this tribute page.  We would truly love to read them.

​

In lieu of flowers please consider contributing to an animal rescue or to the Winnipeg Assiniboine Park Conservancy.