Cecile Smith

A TRIBUTE TO OUR MOTHER CECILE FRANCES SMITH

It is with deep sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved Mother Cecile Smith (nee: Stevenson) on January 10, 2019, she turned eighty on June 3, 2018. 

She was predeceased by her daughter Lila (bee), parents Rose and Dick and brother Joseph.

Left to mourn are children Richard, Shawna (Dan) and Darryl (Kristine);  Her grandchildren Kara (Mathew),  Jordan, Krystin (Adam), Leah (Brandon), and Michael; and great granddaughter Mila; her younger Sister Rita Schlenk, nieces and nephews and extended family in Kentucky.

Cecile was born in Ericksdale in the interlake of Manitoba.  As a young girl, she moved with her family to Lido Plage Road where she attended Todd School.  She went on to high school Ecole Centre - St. Francois  Xavier.  She then pursued her dream of being a teacher and went to Normal School in Tuxedo for further education graduating with her teaching credentials in 1957.   She taught at various schools in Manitoba until she married Lyle in 1961. 

Cecile soon became a Mother and homemaker in 1962 when her first child Richard was born.  After living in Brandon and Winnipeg, the family moved to be close to her parents in the St. Francois Xavier area.  Occasionally, she was asked to be a substitute teacher in Hutterite communities which she found very enjoyable.  She worked summers at the Assiniboine Race Track with cousins Rhoda and Patsy.

When her children got older she returned to school and received a diploma in business administration. During those years she had an active life.  She played soft ball, shot pool, belonged to a dart league, a bowling league and golfed sometimes. She did volunteer work at the Royal Canadian Legion.  She also took some time to travel with her dear friend Ernie.  They went to Hawaii, to Kentucky to visit her sister a couple times and took many road trips across the border to Grand Forks.

Cecile did a variety of work over the years.  She worked as a accounts receivable administrator, as a nanny, and a caterer, her last place of work was at the residence of the Archbishop of St. Boniface, as a professional cook.

After retiring, she moved to Gimli to be near her youngest Son Darryl and his family.  Her favourite  pastimes were spending time with family and solving puzzles to keep her mind active.  She enjoyed crocheting and made many beautiful afghans for family members over the years.  She enjoyed cooking and of course, baking (her pies were the best).  And, two things she absolutely loved were books and cats.  As a Mother and Grandmother she was a good listener, tried to remain positive, loved a good laugh and her last words were always “I love you”.   WE LOVE YOU TOO MOM!!

A family celebration of her life will be held at a later date.

Donations in memory of Cecile can be made to the Heart and Stroke, Winnipeg Humane Society, Manitoba Lung Association.  If you smoke, please quit!

It broke our hearts to lose you but you did not go alone.  A part of us went with you the day God took you home.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Cecile Smith, please visit our floral store.