LUCILLE ESTHER MITCHELL

Lucille Esther Mitchell (nee McVannel) passed away peacefully on July 14, 2023 at the Rosewood Residence with family by her side.

Lucille was born March 29, 1930 in Beaver, Manitoba; the youngest child of Peter & Nellie McVannel. She attended school in McGregor, and as a teenager, spent many fun times during the summer months at her aunt and uncle’s home (Pearl & Bill Becker) which eventually led to her meeting and later marrying “the love of her life”, Thomas Allan Mitchell.

Lucille and Tom met in 1946 at a Welcome Home gathering held in Douglas Hall, for the boys who served in the armed forces. They later married in 1951 and were blessed with four children. Following school, Lucille started a career as a telephone operator with the Manitoba Telephone System moving to Rivers Manitoba until she married and helped her husband, Tom as he took over the family farm north of Douglas. She did return to work as a telephone operator from time to time at Shilo, the Prince Edward Hotel and the Brandon Mental Health Centre where she was often called on for her expertise. She had many fond memories of her work as a telephone operator and her many co-workers.

Despite working outside the home from time to time (a woman before her time), Lucille was a devoted farm wife. She supported her husband in all his endeavors and actively participated in community affairs; from teaching Sunday School, baking for the Douglas Rink, organizing funeral lunches and Fall suppers, and making field lunches and late-night dinners during harvest time. She was a strong, independent woman who was no stranger to hard work and was an integral part of growing the family farm.

As a mother, Lucille ensured that her children had every advantage that she didn’t have growing up which meant driving and helping us with 4-H sewing lessons, music lessons, swimming lessons at the YMCA, choir, to teaching us how to cook & bake delicious cakes & pies. Lucille was an excellent cook, baking great buns and bread as well as canning, pickling, and preserving. The cold storage room and the extra-large deep freezer were always full from the fruits of her labour. She was talented and creative in the multitude of clothes and costumes that she sewed for us, all of the afghans she knit, and the quilts she made out of our old clothes for the beds at the Lake. She made numerous school lunches, sometimes whipping up “chocolate quickies” in the morning before school to be sure we had a sweet treat in our lunch.

Lucille treasured her time with her grandchildren and was thrilled to be able to help with childcare duties when her grandson came along and lived close by.

Lucille truly valued education and encouraged and instilled in her children the importance of education and the love of reading. She inspired us by reading us great literature at an early age (Jean Val Jean and Heidi, the classic versions). She loved her newspaper and really appreciated the perk of early home delivery when she moved from the farm to Brandon.

Lucille loved spending time at Clear Lake, family trips out west, travelling to Hawaii, and later spending winters in Texas where she and Tom loved to golf and socialize with many friends.

While Lucille curled in Douglas, it was golf she really got into later in life. She particularly enjoyed living across from the golf course when she and Tom moved from the farm to Brandon. In the winter months she also liked to bowl and joined a league in Carberry where she was thrilled to break 300. Her 80th Birthday celebration was a family bowling party where she proceeded to show us all up.

When Tom passed away in 2017 Lucille moved to Winnipeg and enjoyed residing in her own condo until just recently when she moved to the Rosewood Residence. While she hadn’t golfed for years, she still kept her competitive nature and managed to win numerous shuffle board games, at home putting contests and mini golf into her 90’s. She loved watching the curling and golf on TV which served her well in her later years.

Thank you to all of the staff at the Rosewood who were so good to her during her time there.

Lucille is survived and will be dearly missed by her children, Linda Brown, Karen Mitchell, Gaye Mitchell (Guy Belluz), and Brad (Donna) Mitchell; two grandchildren, Tara Brown (Dan Penner) and Sawyer Mitchell; great grandchild Scarlett Penner; sister Marion (Ernest) Smith; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents and siblings; Doris (Bert) Smith, Evelyn (Robert) Hard, Geraldine (Ernest) Johnson, Helen (Gib) Young, and Harry (Margaret) McVannel.

Lucille was thankful for 93 years of life filled with a loving husband and family. Her life has left so many memories of a life well lived that will be treasured forever. Those we love are always with us in the gifts that they have shared and she shared many.

As per her wishes there is no funeral. A small family celebration of life will take place August 12.

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If you wish to honour Lucille’s life with a donation, please consider the Heart & Stroke Foundation, Lucille canvassed for them for many years.

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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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