VIIDA GRACE BOLES

Viida Grace Boles passed away with her family by her side on Oct 15, 2023. It was sudden and shocking but thankfully peaceful. She was born and raised in Winnipeg and met her husband Murray in 1967 and they were married on July 4,1970.

She is predeceased by her parents Harvey and Viida, and her brother Reid. She is survived by her sister Kim (Jim), her kids: Reid (Heather), Scott, and Tara (Dallas) and her much adored grandchildren: Reid, Raiya, Rowan, Dexter and Zena. She loved her nieces and nephews Craig, Carly, Kristee, and Kurtis, as well as great nieces Ella, Hailey, and Maya, and a special mention goes to her ‘3rd’ son, Dustin Shore.

Viida was the glue that held the entire family and extended social network together both in the city and out at Brereton Lake. She took the brunt of incessant ribbing from all of us, we have more stories than we can count which are all hilarious in their own way.

She was dubbed 'The Warden' long ago because she tried her best to rule her family with an iron fist, hands on hips or jabbing an accusing finger our way while trying to determine who was the cause of the latest trouble that we were in. This is what we will miss the most, looking up from the edge of the lake to see her standing on the deck, backlit by the cabin lights, hands on her hips, letting one or usually all of us know that it was time to 'Knock it off!'.

‘Fire Chief Boles’ was another name that we gave her. Unlike the ‘Warden’ who dealt with discipline, Fire Chief Boles monitored many questionable fires that were lit in the lakeside firepit over the years, there was ‘no nonsense’ to be had around fires, and thankfully because of her no lives were lost in a firepit accident and we will be forever grateful. Although there may be a few tribute bonfires lit in the coming years, safely of course.

She spent every summer at Brereton Lake since retiring from the City of Winnipeg Fire Prevention department in 2014, before that you could be sure she was there from mid- July until early august every year, as well as every weekend until thanksgiving. Retiring was a difficult choice for her, she truly loved her job and had a hard time leaving the staff that had become like a second family to her.

She enjoyed her Bingo nights at Southdale Community Center or the slots at the Rennie Hotel with her sister Kim and niece Kristee. She loved watching the Winnipeg Jets games and shared that passion with her family and friends. When she traveled to visit Kim and Jim it was either Calgary or Phoenix, both places had 'much better' weather than here at home she would often say. We will miss her lasagna, apple crisp, veggie dip and so much more, she loved to cook and host and we are at a loss to see who will fill this massive hole left in the family. She was loved by all, not just her immediate family, and we are left to navigate things without her bright light to guide us. She was cremated as per her wishes and did not want a funeral; she was never one to want any sort of extra attention.

There are no words to make this better and we will never be the same without her, but we do know that she will live on forever with the amount of stories we have to tell about her.

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ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

530 St. Mary Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

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