LESLEY RUTH REMPEL

On May 26, 2026, Lesley left this earth and went home after a brief illness. Lesley spent her final hours surrounded by her children and grandchildren, sharing memories of cherished times with Lesley, while her favourite Irish music played in the background.

Lesley was the beloved wife of 63 years to her husband George, a dedicated mother to her three children Roger (Susan, Magnus), Gordon (Karen, Owen, Erin) and Kristin (Antonio, Ryan, Brendan, Jordan, Christian). Mom welcomed her first great-granddaughter, Josephine, earlier in January. Mom was pre-deceased by her parents Jack and Ruth Barber, and her beloved older brother Terry Barber. Lesley also loved animals, and adored her fur babies Morris, Abby and Seamus as dear companions along the way.

Lesley chose Nursing as her career and graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1963. She loved being a nurse and it was no surprise that someone who cared so much about others would embark on a career to support people in their hour of need. After she left her nursing career to raise her family, she found ways to continue her dedication to helping others. For years, Mom was active as a volunteer with multiple community clinics, providing support to members of the local AIDS community and she also volunteered with Diabetes Canada.  Mom made so many lifelong friendships from her work in these areas, and her family has many memories of Mom on the patio with friends from the communities she served. If you popped in on Mom and Dad during one of these gatherings, you met great friends of hers and you would be laughing and smiling all afternoon. Many of these people became close friends of the family through Lesley.

Mom’s life with George and her family was a life well lived, full of travel around the world, weekends with family at the Victoria Beach cabin, festive gatherings, new grand kids, Barber family reunions, winters in Arizona, Hawaii, and more. Despite the heath challenges Mom faced later in life, her love for family gave her an insatiable zest for living. She wanted to be there to support and cheer on everyone in her family who she loved so dearly. Mom’s will to be here for her family was a strong source of her resilience. Mom recovered successfully from prior surgeries, but her most recent medical challenges were beyond what her will to live could deliver for her. 

Mom is and was so much more than her physical body. Mom’s love and her spirit far exceeded her body’s ability to keep her going. We can hear her voice now in the breezes through the trees, the birds that sing, and her great grand-daughter’s giggles. Lesley will be cherished by her family and her friends from here around the world.

The family would like to thank the staff at St Boniface ICU for their support and care during Lesley’s final hours. In lieu of flowers, Lesley would’ve appreciated donations to the Winnipeg Humane Society.

A memorial service will take place on Thursday, June 4, 2026 at 1:30 pm at St. Andrews Church in Winnipeg with Rev. Karen Lumley officiating. Lesley will reach her final rest alongside family at St. John’s Anglican Cathedral.

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ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

1833 Portage Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

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