Ethel Winnifred Du Val

Ethel passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 29, 2021 at Riverview Health Centre.

Mom, the youngest of three girls, was born in Fork River and raised in Winnipegosis. She was predeceased by her husband Dr. Frederic Du Val, sister Margaret Russell and nephew Gordon Denby.

Ethel graduated as an RN from Children’s Hospital and worked as a Public Health Nurse at inner city schools for many years. She married Fred Du Val in June of 1951 and they moved to New York and then Toronto to complete his surgical training. As was the custom, once their children were born, she devoted herself to raising their family and to charitable causes including Knox Church, the United Church Women’s Group, St. Agnes Guild, Children’s Hospital Foundation, Manitoba Health Auxiliaries Association and the Board of Middlechurch Home. She spent hundreds of hours sorting books in “the hole” at Children’s Hospital Book Market and managed the Magazine Shop at the Children’s Hospital Book Market for decades. Always busy, she donated thousands of handsewn and knitted articles to charitable causes over the years. She returned to the workforce in the 1970’s when she was hired by the Faculty of Medicine to find teaching patients for medical students and continued working for them for several years.

She gave unwavering support and care to her four children and nine grandchildren and loved each of them deeply. A Cub, Boy Scout, Brownie and Girl Guide Leader, driver for countless school field trips, music and swimming lessons – she was tireless. Despite her intense fear of spiders, bears and the dark, she provided the opportunity for her children and grandchildren to spend long summers at the cottage that she and dad built at Farlane. Whether she used a campfire, woodstove, propane stove or traditional oven, her culinary skills were renowned and showcased at numerous family dinners, neighbourhood parties and work-related functions. An impeccable and attentive hostess, her favourite event was a sit-down dinner for 20 or more people at Thanksgiving which she cooked by herself on a woodstove at the lake.

Her strength was formidable. Whether it was portaging a canoe, wilderness camping, daily laundry with a tub and wash board, chopping wood or hiking “the hill” at the lake, she never gave up. When she decided on a course of action, she did not waver from achieving her goal.

Impeccably dressed, with her traditional “up do” hair style, she radiated elegance and grace and never passed a baby, young child or an animal without stopping to smile or say a kind word. She loved to travel and did so extensively with dad. She had a practical, no-nonsense approach to life - worked hard, threw herself whole heartedly into every endeavour and did not seek recognition, accolades or awards. She simply did “the right thing.”

Thank you to Syd Berquist for your companionship, devotion and care for Mom. You have enriched all of our lives with your kindness, compassion and friendship. Thank you also to Dr. Brian Sharkey for your care and to those who provided support in the final years – Hellan and Norma Currie, Pam Proctor and the staff at Unit CD2, Riverview Health Centre.

Mom never told her age, decided at the age of 14 to never celebrate another birthday and hated both funerals and having her picture taken. To honour her wishes, a private memorial will occur when COVID-19 permits.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Manitoba Medical Service Foundation (in support of new Health Care Researchers in Manitoba) c/o Manitoba Blue Cross; P.O. Box 1046 Stn. Main; Winnipeg R3C 2X7; The Winnipeg Foundation (“DuVal Foundation Central Park Community Fund”)1350, 1 Lombard Ave., Winnipeg R3B 0X3; The Riverview Health Centre, Ward CD2;1 Morley Ave R3L 2P4 or the charity of your choice.