It is with profound sadness that the family of June Gray (nee Trenholm) announces her passing in Winnipeg, Manitoba on January 26, 2021, at the age of 93.
She was adored by her children: Diane Gray (Blake Withers) and Bruce Gray (Mandy Vallenduuk), grandchildren: Ally (Josh), Zak (Kristina), Katy (Sergei), Serena, Jason, James (Morgan), Kacey, Kale and Brinnley, great-grandchildren: Nevaeh and Charlotte, her sister: Lou Locke, and 9 nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her partner, Robert Gladstone, her brother, Harold Trenholm, her sister, Marion Bachmeier, and her parents, Lloyd and Lillian Trenholm.
June was born on the family farm in South Derby, just north of Cartwright, Manitoba. She attended school in the area, and later college at Success Business School in Winnipeg. Her career and love of adventure saw her move to the west coast where she and her sister Marion got their pilot licenses in 1951. She worked in positions at CN Rail and the Vancouver Police Dept. Following her move back to Manitoba in 1972 and her home community of Cartwright in 1979, she worked for the United Church of Canada. She later moved to Winnipeg in 2014 to be closer to her family.
June was a woman of contrasts. She stood 4 foot 11 and a half (an important detail), but despite her diminutive stature was what her grand-children called, « the original sass-master. » Having taught her children and grand-children to play crib, she took to « trash-talking » them when she was losing and winning, for that matter. At the same time, she had a great deal of patience, especially for animals, which on most days, she liked more than people. She disliked bullies and misogynists, often loudly wondering why so many men liked to tell little old ladies what to do. She was a card carrying member of PETA and also a fire-arms license.
June appreciated living in the moment; her answering machine punctuated this fact — “Yeah, call you later.” When she could get away with it, she would eat her dessert first. Why waste time with the boring stuff, she would say. Her favourite non-dessert food? Pancakes. Topped with lots of syrup and whipped cream. For her grand-daughter, she would eat the vegetables off her plate, just so Ally could also have dessert . She loved to travel and would go off to Europe without telling her family where she was until her return. Among her belongs at passing, brochures for future cruises and vacations in Hawaii.
June always gave back to her community — volunteering with Meals on Wheels, the Royal Canadian Legion, and the United Church. She was knitting for stroke patients even when critically ill. She cared for those she was close to. If you were her friend, you were a friend for life. June was proud of her kids and grandchildren, collecting clippings of their accomplishments. She was a joy to be around, and popular. Her schedule was always full, we would need to make appointments to take her out for supper or a drink.
June was also a private person. She was not above skirting the truth, particularly when it came to how she was feeling health-wise. She recovered from two bouts of cancer, but not the third. She always said she was “feeling good” even when she wasn’t. Thank you to the kind staff at the Grace Hospital and Grace Hospice for your care of Mom in her final weeks.
June Gray was a woman with spirit, spunk, and a sense of humour. We loved her, and she us. We will miss her. Her passing has left a hole in our hearts.
A grave-side service and burial will be held at a future date in Cartwright, when conditions allow.
Those wishing to make a memorial donation may wish to do so with the Grace Hospital Foundation, Cancer Care Manitoba, the Cartwright and Area Foundation, or a charity of their choosing.
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Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de June Gray Trenholm Tuesday January 26th 2021..
Décès pour la Ville: Winnipeg, Province: Manitoba