WENDY ANN ELLIOTT

Wendy passed away on September 11, 2023 at the Convalescent Home of Winnipeg. Wendy was born on November 30, 1948 in Portage la Prairie to Della and Dr. Gerald Elliott. In Portage, she completed her elementary and secondary education and in 1970, obtained a degree in Sociology at the University of Winnipeg.

Among her paid work experiences, Wendy was employed by the Manitoba Government in Department of Culture, Heritage, and Tourism where she was responsible for the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). Wendy loved the challenge of promoting and assisting with the implementation of FIPPA throughout government.

Wendy will be remembered for her many passions, from the arts, the CBC to her thrifting and her commitment to her neighbourhood of Wolseley.  She was a co-founder of the Wolseley Residents Association.  She chaired the Laura Secord Community Centre at a time when the Centre was transitioning to a larger facility and remained a terrific community club volunteer.  She loved to shop locally at the Wolseley Wardrobe, The Shoe Doctor (both no longer operating), Tall Grass Bakery and Prairie Sky Books.  

Wendy was a volunteer at West End Cultural Centre in its early days. She was a long-serving volunteer and former board member of the Winnipeg Folk Festival. Year after year, Wendy volunteered at Prairie Theatre Exchange, Theatre Projects Manitoba and others. She became an early member of the Human Rights Museum,  and she loved “First Friday” evenings in the Exchange.  Books and the CBC were constant companions throughout her life.

Wendy also served on the boards of the Manitoba Chiropractic Association and Aurora Family Centre. She was an active early participant in the development of the Old Grace Housing Co-op and the Gas Station Theatre project. Later on, she joined the 360 Osborne Street Co-op Housing.

Wendy was a collector of antiques and interesting art objects and an enthusiastic “thrifter” (much to the dismay of her family).  She willingly assisted many friends and family organizing yard sales and pricing items from her thrifting experiences.  

Wendy loved camping and canoeing with friends and family and traveled with her little red canoe to many places across Western Canada. She was a soccer fan and a loyal supporter of her sons’ and grandsons’ sports teams. Later in life, she took in the Winnipeg Goldeyes games with great enthusiasm.

While Wendy’s pumpkin pies and bedtime brownies were legendary, her cranberry catsup (prepared with cousin, Lynn using wild high-bush cranberries and a family recipe) was not universally loved; though she claimed it was the perfect condiment for a hamburger.   Her Grandma Hazel’s turkey cooker contributed delicious turkey for many neighbourhood events and holiday dinners with the Barrs, the McCrackens, the Elliotts and the Clarks, along with hilarious stories about its adventures.  As long as she was able, Wendy loved traditions from the turkey cooker and the family Christmas decorations to the baking of Christmas bread with the Barr family and her annual gift of candy-cane fudge. 

Wendy leaves behind her beloved grandsons, Fredrich, Cohen and Theo, her sister, Brenda, son Devin, daughter in-law Stacey McCracken, her cousins and many friends - particularly those whose friendship continued throughout her life. Wendy lost her son and part of her heart, Corey, to ALS in 2019.

The family would like to thank the staff at the Convalescent Home of Winnipeg for their loving care in the past two years.

All are invited to honour Wendy at 3:30pm, Sunday, October 22 at Old Grace Housing Co-op (200 Arlington Street).

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Wendy’s family kindly requests that all of her friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour her memory by sharing photos, memories, and stories, using the comment section on this page.

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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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