Frances Hilary (Harris) Dunlop

It’s been 12 years since Dad passed. They had 62 years together. Mum missed him dearly but carried on with life in Winnipeg. Welcomed new great-grandchildren, continued to look after things herself and her home, drove to visit friends and attend church. As time passed she accepted a move to assisted living but sadly Covid made things difficult so another move was made to live with her daughter in Oakbank, MB. When it became necessary for Mum to go into care she spent a few months at Arborg PCH and then returned to Oakbank to the Kin Place Personal Care Home where she was a resident for three years.

We are grateful to have had 95 years with Mum and are deeply saddened by her passing on July 30th, 2026 at Kin Place. She had been waiting patiently to be reunited with Dad and peacefully slipped away with family by her side. So we rejoice that they are together again and find comfort in knowing that she is now at peace, free from the burden of dementia and is made whole again.

Mum was born September 9, 1930 in Winnipeg and was the youngest child of Leonard and Gladys Harris (nee Thomas) who emigrated from Cornwall, England. She was predeceased by her parents and her siblings, three sisters and two brothers; Muriel McMaster, Dorothy Heal, Leslie Harris, Kathryn Akister, and John Curnow Harris. Also by her daughter-in-law Lynne Dunlop (nee Deverdenne), her grandson Jeffery Wiens, and her nephew-in-law Steven Brink.

Mum was raised in Fort Rouge and attended Lord Roberts school where she met Dad, Stuart Dunlop. Mum said they had “shiny eyes” for each other from the age of 14. Her mother was not too keen on that “wild Dunlop boy.” Her father was won over during the 1950 flood when Dad took it upon himself to fit a backwater valve in their basement. They married in 1952, lived in different parts of Winnipeg but settled in Fort Garry and raised 4 children over the next 10 years. Moving to a bigger house wasn’t an option so Mum would paint walls, wallpaper over wallpaper, sew curtains and move furniture around to give the place a new look. Dad worked shift at the CN Shops in Transcona and learned to turn on a light when he got home after midnight so as not to trip over something that was not there when he left for work. Mum worked retail jobs then the night shift at a nursing home as a health care aide, but she always wanted to be a nurse. So she took courses to obtain her Grade 12, was accepted into the Licensed Practical Nurse program at Red River Community College, had three of her four children still at home, and a husband who worked shift. She graduated as an LPN in 1975 at the age of 45, a truly proud moment. She enjoyed working at Victoria General Hospital for the next 15 years or so.

Mum enjoyed knitting, crocheting, sewing and other crafts. Her sister Dorothy was her best friend. Dunlop’s and Heals got together every Friday night for years. We went on camping trips, first in tents and later in a pop up trailer. As a family we drove to California and flew to England to see relatives. They in turn came here to visit. The UK relatives couldn’t believe the distances travelled to show them The Rockies and Niagara Falls. In later years Mum and Dad would take off in their converted van to visit new places, always checking out the thrift stores, or to Dauphin to see the Durston’s. They travelled by CN Rail to the west coast and took bus tours. In 2002 Mum excitedly planned their 50th Wedding Anniversary as if it were a second wedding. At age 80 she learned to use a computer and enjoyed searching for recipes and sending or receiving funny stories from her friend Carol Graham. She enjoyed faith based programs, ones with singing and even Border Security.

Mum is survived by her four children: Robert Dunlop, Winnipeg; Hilary Walmsley (Bill), Oakbank; Dorothy Wiens (John), Winnipeg and Nancy Reling (Mike), Winnipeg. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren; Lindsay Dunlop, daughter Kennedy; Lisa Boughton (Ryan) sons Caleb, Chase and Colby; Christopher Walmsley (Dana) daughters Lily and Abbie; Jason Walmsley, Ian Wiens (Kelsey); Matthew Reling (Angie) sons Kai, Nate and Lex; and Stephanie Reling. As well as many nieces, nephews and their families.

Mum read her Bible and prayed for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She remained faithful throughout the years. She was loved. We carry with us her love and strength, her small but mighty nature, her blue eyes, love of ice cream, scotch mints, wagon wheels and hearing her say “Put the kettle on.”

The family would like to thank Kin Place for the exceptional care, dignity and kindness Mum received and the support and compassion that brought comfort to her and our family. We are forever grateful.

Cremation has taken place and a Celebration of Life was held on Tuesday, August 25th, 2026 at Thompson “In the Park” where Mum and Dad are laid to rest.