Sherine Newman Mccormick

Born in Whitewood Saskatchewan on March 30, 1949 to Ed and Irene Newman.

Passed away on November 29, 2020 at Vancouver General Palliative Unit Vancouver BC after a brief battle with cancer.

Predeceased by parents Ed and Irene Newman, first husband John Stevens, brother-in-law Don Aird, and second husband Frank McCormick

Survived by her sister Karen Aird, and her brother Glyn Newman [Joy]

She attended school in Whitewood from grades 1-12. She graduated in 1967 and in the fall moved to Winnipeg to continue her education. She attended The Manitoba Institute of Technology [now known as Red River Collage] and was planning a career as a Dental Hygienist but found out it was not for her.

Not knowing what she wanted to do she went to work at A&W as a car hop girl. She quickly moved into a manager position with the company. After a year or so she decided to move to Vancouver with the company and spent 2 years there. She spread her wings even further to Europe with the first stop in London. She worked in a restaurant/bar then moved to Germany. While in Germany she sold books door to door to the Canadian and US families posted there.

Returning to Canada she settled back in Winnipeg. I was so excited to have her back here. She worked waitressing and as a movie theatre ticket cashier while taking business courses. After she finished her courses she became an executive assistant at Hartz Standard and eventually a sales rep for them. At the time she also had a part time job with a company that did stock taking for companies, which is where she met her future husband John. She ultimately decided to work for John as his office manager and quit Hartz Standard.

Sherine always needed to be doing something. She stayed active with volunteer work at an assisted living facility serving the residents lunch once a week. She was always looking for exercise classes in the fall and winter. In the spring and summer she would be out for her walks for 4-5 miles every day. She had a standing golf date with her girlfriends every week.

After John passed away, Sherine got a phone call from an old flame. Frank McCormick. They talked for hours at a time for the first few weeks. Frank convinced Sherine to come to BC to see if there was a chance to rekindle those flames and by the end of 2014 Frank had convinced Sherine to marry him. She came back to Winnipeg and broke the news to us that she was getting married in July. They were married at her Winnipeg home with friends and family in attendance. That summer she was back in Vancouver.

She loved going to Frank’s entertainment venues to see him perform. Whether it was a gig or a jam session, she was there. She loved music and country music was always playing on the radio at her house. Her house was always well organized and she whipped the Vancouver house into shape getting projects done in the house. Then she tackled the yard. A weed didn’t last long in her yard. She finally had the yard done to her standards this year, and it was her oasis.

Even though she was a good Saskatchewan farm girl, she was scared of animals [especially rodents]. Preferred the yard and gardening end of farm life. In the fall she would collect seeds for the following year.

A very young Karen & Sherine went on the train from Whitewood to Virden, Manitoba to visit their Aunt Hertha. That was a huge treat and their first trip on a train by themselves. Karen loved being on the train. Sherine not so much. She suffered from severe motion sickness. The conductor took Sherine under his wing and at every stop [and there were a lot] would take her outside and walk around the platform.

Karen and Sherine loved going to Aunt Georgina’s farm in Tribune, Saskatchewan. Often cousin Barb would be there and they would have a great time.

Sherine had a special relationship with Grandma Newman and one of her favourite things was to take her school lunch, walk to grandma’s house and have a visit.

Karen said” Sherine had an exotic look and people would remember her years after meeting her”. In grade 10 Sherine ran for Carnival Queen and was a runner up.

As soon as she could get a job she did waitressing. She worked at the Café/gas station on #1 Hwy in Whitewood. There she met many interesting travellers, including the singer Bobby Curtola . He toured Canada and would play Legions in small towns. He always would stop at the Café to say “hi” and he always remembered her. When she moved to Winnipeg and attended one of his events he of course remembered her.

Glyn remembers her coming home and they decided to drive to Wapella for drinks. They went into the hotel and sat down. The waitress asked for Sherine’s ID. She didn’t bring it. Glyn knew the waitress and said it was his older sister but that didn’t fly with the waitress. They ended up leaving without having a drink.

Sherine was so talented. She could sew anything, all kinds of different crafts from making candles to painting walls. She really enjoyed playing cards especially cribbage. Paint was her friend and she was very creative from painting furniture to refinishing furniture she did it all. She cut her own hair for years. Her brother-in-law said her haircut was the best one he ever had.

She loved making doll clothes with Bunny [Aunt]. She also knitted outfits and sold them—Cabbage Patch dolls were all the rage then, they were very well dressed dolls. That hobby paid for a few winter holidays to Mexico for her. Garage sales were another thing she loved to go to and organize. Her garage sales also paid for a few winter holidays.

She travelled frequently to Mexico with John and sometimes with just her girlfriends. The girls she golfed with also took winter holidays with her to Barbados and Cuba.

She loved entertaining and was famous for her Devilled Eggs. She was the queen of appetizers, having all kinds of recipes. Having a glass of “vino” was also included with the appetizers. I have many fond memories of those vino experiences.

She and Bunny had standing lunch dates followed by shopping. They both loved going to Giant Tiger and the Dollar Store. They would also play cards, mostly cribbage as both were card sharks.

As mentioned previously, she was very creative. She had a tablecloth from her Aunt Hertha. It had a hole in it so Sherine made it into poncho/shawl. If it was on anyone other than Sherine it would look awful, but on her it looked great. She loved large dangle earrings, the bigger the better. In her younger years Sherine was a sun worshipper. The snow would be barely gone and she would be out sun tanning.

When her BFF Debbie was palliative she came back to Winnipeg to help take care of her. They spent two weeks together. Two weeks that Sherine cherished.

Anyone who knew Sherine please have a glass of “vino” and salute her and celebrate her life.

Thanks to all the doctors and nursing staff at Mount St Joseph Hospital and Vancouver General Palliative Unit. Special thanks to Debbie Tremayne (niece) who was able to be with Sherine at the end.

Sherine did not want a service.

Family ask if you wish to make a donation you can please think about donating to Vancouver General Hospital Palliative Unit Vancouver BC. or to a charity of your choice.

Eulogy written by Sherine’s cousin,

Pamela Dorge

McCORMICK– Sherine Newman

1949 – 2020

Sherine is survived by her sister, Karen Aird; brother, Glyn

(Joy) Newman and their family; Aunt Bunny; numerous

cousins and members of the McCormick family. She was

predeceased by her first husband, John Stevens; parents, Ed

and Irene Newman; brother-in-law, Don Aird; and her second

husband, Frank McCormick.

Sherine was born in Whitewood, Sask. and after high school,

she moved to Winnipeg where she attended business college

and for several years worked in payroll and staffing. Then

she joined John to operate a stock audit company. Following

retirement and her marriage to Frank in 2015, she moved to

Vancouver.

Sherine had wonderful trips to Europe, Mexico and several

Caribbean Islands. She enjoyed golfing, gardening, fitness

classes and long walks. She was a talented seamstress and

crafter who gifted her creations to friends and family.

A private inurnment will take place at a future date. In

memoriam donations may be made to the palliative care

unit, Vancouver General Hospital, 899W 12th Ave.,

Vancouver, B.C. V5Z 1M9.