Roberta Lorraine Winnemuller

Roberta Lorraine Winnemuller  (nee: Taylor)

November 26, 1939 – May 7, 2025

It is with deep sorrow and heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of our mother, Roberta Winnemuller, at the Selkirk Regional Health Centre.

Roberta leaves to mourn her four daughters, Leah (Tim) Shumilak, Leona (Greg) Groot, Lisa (Greg) Kasky, and Anita (Keith) Campbell; her grandchildren, James (Jacqueline), Jason (Sheena), Devun (Sarah), Tyson (Bella), Faith, Taylor, and Hannah; and her great-grandchildren Clark, Penny, Jordan (Kyle), Bryce; and her great great grandchild, Ava.  As Roberta was an only child her husband Herman’s family became her own and they will also mourn her passing. 

Roberta was predeceased by her father, Bert, her mother, Kay, and the love of her life, Herman (2021).

Roberta (Mom) was born in New Westminster, British Columbia, but was raised in Port Alberni on Vancouver Island.  It was here that her love of dance blossomed.  Along with her parents, they owned a dance studio and often had more than 75 students.  Through the years, these students kept in touch with mom.  With much pride, she spoke of one of her students becoming a member of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.

In 1958, mom met her forever love, Herman, and on June 24, 1961, they married in Port Alberni.  Living on a hobby farm they started their family with both Leah and Leona.  In 1970, they decided to move to Manitoba to take on bigger farming opportunities.  There was never a dull moment on the farm close to East Selkirk, MB.  Mom helped dad build fences, even if she was pregnant, feed piglets and calves in the porch if needed, kept the house filled with the aroma of fresh baked bread and goodies, and always harvested a huge garden.  Here in Manitoba, mom and dad added two more daughters to their family, Lisa and Anita.

Throughout her life, mom had many jobs: McDonalds, food demonstrator at grocery stores, and a florist at Safeway to name a few, but her most loved jobs were the Selkirk Snak Shak and the Regional 4-H Program Assistant, as she loved the people that she worked with.  She did everything with a smile on her face and a positive attitude.   Mom had a love of life and she loved meeting new people.  If you received her famous hugs, then you were considered her family.

Family was very important to mom.  She loved visiting her daughters and their families.  Her family also loved visiting her and dad on the family farm, helping with all sorts of farm work through the years. We learned how to work hard, persevere through tough times, and make great memories every chance we got. Mom and dad did everything together and became great role models for their family.  They are both forever in our hearts!

In 2017, mom was diagnosed with dementia but like everything else with our parents, they tackled it together.  Mom’s body was willing, and dad’s mind was sharp, so they continued to live on the family farm enjoying the little things in life and making special memories with their family.  When dad passed, life became more challenging for mom, starting with a move to Riverton where supportive living was accessible.  She had lots of visitors during her stay in Riverton and her love of life and family still shone through.   One of our highlights was taking her to the Maritimes for a beautiful visit of New Brunswick (visiting Taylor), PEI (seeing Anne of Green Gables) and Nova Scotia (checking out Peggy’s Cove). Mom never forgot her husband, Herman, and she still knew her daughters even through the fog of dementia.  We were so fortunate that the love that she had for each of us was never erased by this awful disease.  We would like to say thank you to the staff and clients (especially Daphne and Betty) at the Icelandic River Lodge for their kindness and support of our mom over the last three and a half years.

Mom will always be remembered for her quick smile, loving hugs, and kind soul.  She would welcome anyone into her home, to have a lengthy chat, some tea, and a cookie.

The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the nurses, doctors and health care aids at the Selkirk ER and Palliative care units.  Your kindness to “Momma” and her family during our time there will always be remembered.  Her toes were tapping right to the very end.

Mom’s wish of cremation has occurred, and the gathering of friends and family will occur in the summer when the whole family can be together.  If you wish to honour our mom’s memory, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba.

We will miss you terribly, mom, but we know that you are with dad now, having tea (coffee for dad), and dancing up a storm together.  We’ll love you forever!

Tributes: www.gilbartfuneralhome.com

Gilbart Funeral Home, Selkirk in care of arrangements.

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