Eleanor passed quietly at Pembina Place Care Home, in her 93rd year. Predeceased by her beloved husband Rolland (1970); her sisters Jean (1990) and Ruby (2020).
Loving sister of her brother, Jim Anderson. Loving mother to Joy (Gavin) Wood; Karen (Mel) Lanthier; Lee (Gary) Lacoste; Rolland (Linda) Gillies. Cherished grandmother to Rolland, Alexander, Cole and Sherri. Dearest friend of Jean Cross and family.
Eleanor was born in Winnipeg in 1928 to her Scottish parents, William and Jean Anderson. Like others of the greatest generation Eleanor came of the age during the difficult years of the 1930’s and World War II. Eleanor met and married her husband Rolland in 1951. They lived in Winnipeg where her daughters Joy and Karen and son Rolland were born. They spent a brief time in Gimli, before moving to Saskatoon in 1960 where her daughter Lee joined the family shortly thereafter.
Eleanor’s years in Saskatoon were spent as a mother and wife, devoted to her family. Eleanor was a brownie leader, involved in home and school and later began to work at the Hudson Bay Company part time. She developed many close friendships during these years and kept her many friends and relatives in Winnipeg, visiting frequently.
Tragically Eleanor was widowed in 1970 with the death of her husband Rolland. Left to raise four young children on her own Eleanor moved back to Winnipeg to be nearer to her dearest friends and family.
Eleanor continued to work at the Hudson Bay store in downtown Winnipeg where she worked in payroll, eventually becoming manager of the department by her retirement in the late 1980’s. Eleanor had many good friends and memories from her years at the Bay.
Eleanor continued to be both working mother and dearest mom to her four children. She guided them with a steady hand and loving heart. Each of us knows the successes of our own lives would never have been possible without her sacrifice, care, support and unfailing love.
Along the way Eleanor shared her life with her extended family and dearest childhood friend Jean Cross and family. Sunday dinners, holidays and birthdays were always made so special by her loving touch. She kept a lovely home in Westwood and a cabin in Gimli first in the 1970’s then again in the 1990’s. Family memories were made in the sandy beaches of lake Winnipeg.
Eleanor’s later years were again, all about family. She travelled extensively with her daughter Joy. She welcomed three sons-in-laws and one daughter-in-law to her family. She became “Nani” to her four grandchildren, guiding, caring and loving them as she had with her own children years before.
In her twilight years, as her health declined Eleanor never lost her feisty spirit nor her love and devotion for her friends and family. It is that love that all who knew her would always remember. She was friend, wife, mother and grandmother and touched every heart along the way.
Although the almighty has now called her home, she is with us still. In the quiet of the early morning she loved so…In the memories of happy times…The childhood of friend’s moments together…. The joy of a family bound together with the soft ties of love. She is now at rest, at peace, her life of caring and love may now be over….She lives on in our hearts forever….
A Graveside Service will held at Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens.
A special thank you to the caring staff at Pembina Place for their loving care.
If desired donations may be made to CancerCare Manitoba or The Salvation Army.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Eleanor Gillies Thursday June 24th 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Winnipeg, Province: Manitoba