MYRNA MILROY

After 87 years of sharing her gracious and generous spirit with her family, her friends, her students and her faith community, Myrna Milroy passed from this life on February 10th. In passing, she was surrounded by her children and their spouses at her home, just as she wished.

Myrna will return to rest less than a mile from her ancestral and cherished childhood home near Durban, Manitoba with her parents, Matt and Leila (Harvey) Milroy, her brother and sister-in-law Jack and Carol Milroy, grandparents and countless extended family members and friends.

The family farm in Durban provided some of Myrna's fondest memories. Picking wild roses along the road that runs south to the cemetery was a happy ritual throughout her life. Her collections of four-leaf clovers may turn up pressed in the pages of books long unopened. Shenanigans with cousins (especially Leone Mansfield) and her baby brother were both hilarious and mischievous. Myrna would return to Durban most summers with her young family and husband John Sawchuk, thus cementing memories for four generations.

With a young family, Myrna started her career as a teacher, working for a few years in Thompson, Manitoba. Later, having settled in Thunder Bay, she worked at Burke Jewellers and then put her good heart into working at Little Lions Day Care with her daughter, Bobbi.

Throughout her long life, family, friends and all those she encountered were gifted with her tolerance, forgiveness, generosity, grace and Christian spirit. Timeless home-cooked meals and treats that she routinely bestowed upon many, were expressions of love.

Myrna is survived by her niece Abby Bardell, nephews Matthew and Michael Milroy, and dear cousins Leone Mansfield and Betty Dack. Myrna expressed both gratitude and appreciation to her children, son Bill (Tanya) Sawchuk of Maple Ridge, B.C., daughters Leanne (Paul) Mickleburgh and Bobbi (Dan) Tamblyn, both of Thunder Bay, for ensuring she could remain at home throughout her illness.

Myrna was royally anointed the ultimate term of endearment, "Grams Bear," by her grandchildren: Carlie (Michael) Oishi, Matt (Cassidy) Sawchuk, Chelsea (Kevin) Holmquist, Matt Mickleburgh (Shae), Mia (Dalton) McKay, Hannah (Cody) Magnusson, Samuel Tamblyn, Benjamin Tamblyn (Vicki), and her great grandchildren Jesse, Hudson, Reese Holmquist, Daniel Magnusson, Layla Sawchuk, Leighton McKay, and Ruka Oishi. Their love and affection for "Grams Bear" spilled both ways. Myrna said they were "her salvation."

In her later years, Myrna enjoyed "snow-birding" in Arizona with then husband Armand Antoniak. She devoted many hours of volunteer work at First Church United, providing endless turkey pot pies and perogies for their fund-raising events. She took up water colour painting with both talent and enthusiasm. The two led to many quality works, some of which were sold at local art shows. Golf was a constant for decades, a sport for her to cheerfully socialize with both family and friends.

Myrna will be remembered forever for showering her words and works of love on all of us. Rest In Peace and God Bless.

Myrna and family would like to express heartfelt thanks for the compassionate care provided by all we encountered at The Thunder Bay Regional Health Services Centre-Cancer Centre. Special thanks to Dr. K. Ward, Dr Chan, and Dr Haggarty. The guidance and exemplary care of Dr Sellick and Jocelyn will be remembered always.

Funeral to be held Wednesday, February 19, 11 AM at First Wesley United Church, 130 Brodie St. N., Thunder Bay.

Donations may be made to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre-Cancer Centre.