Jean Lothian

Our much-loved Mom, Nana and Auntie passed on October 29 at the age of 91 (we imagine into the waiting arms of her husband Bob and grandson Drew).

Jean was a Norwood girl through and through. She was born and raised on Birchdale Drive, just one street over from her future husband Bob and right around the corner from lifelong friends Donna Moffat and Olive Frame.

Jean walked through life with open arms. Her superpower was making everyone she met feel valued and respected. She had a way of connecting with people, and the twinkle in her eye and her warm smile told everyone she encountered that they mattered. She was curious, warm and charismatic, and if she walked into a room not knowing a soul, she left knowing all. ‘She never met a stranger’ is a perfect epitaph for Jean.

It might have been this attribute of caring that led her to a career in nursing. Following in her mother’s footsteps, she trained at Saint Boniface Hospital in the days when the Nuns were the teachers and living in residence was required. Graduating in 1954, she promptly decamped to North Dakota where her soon to be husband Bob was studying at UND. Jean was proud to say she put her husband through university.

Returning to Canada, the young couple settled back in Norwood and Jean entered an exciting time in her career as an OR nurse. She retired for a time to have a family, (Lori, Jane and Jeff) but felt the pull to return to nursing in her 40s. Braving the ‘refresher course’, she worked at the St Boniface Day Hospital for 14 years which was one of the most rewarding experiences of her life.

Another rewarding experience for Jean was her involvement with PEO. She joined as a young woman and stayed involved to the end of her days (she was delighted to receive her annual membership card a few days before her passing). She valued the mission of education and her PEO sisters.

Jean and Bob met as children and started dating after high school. They loved to dance, spend time with their many friends from home and away, and watch British TV. Lifelong sweethearts, they celebrated 60 years together before Bob’s passing in 2015.

Jean loved her three children and the time she shared with them and their partners Tom Bradley and Wendy Lothian. Her cheerleading instilled in all her kids the joy of life, unwavering optimism and a complete inability to use the word ‘can’t’. She felt blessed to have five wonderful grandsons (Jonathon, Drew and MacKenzie Murray and Branton and Owen Lothian) and the time and attention they lavished on her.

West Hawk Lake figured prominently in Jean’s Life. Her father A.C. (Colonel) Samson settled at the north end of the Lake in the 1920’s and the cottage remains in the Samson family to this day. Jean and Bob got their own place in the 1970’s and promptly made it a place where their young family could have fun together. Jean and Bob loved a crowded table, and the Cottage has been the gathering place for family and friends ever since. This includes much loved niece Betty Lou and nephew David Rock, who took up summer residence at the cottage in their younger years. The kids and grandkids are grateful to Nana and Papa for their gift of the family cottage and the many wonderful times spent together.

When the golden years arrived, Jean and Bob retired first to West Hawk Lake and then, when the winters seemed to be getting longer, found a special community at Sun City in Tucson, Arizona). These were very fun times for them. They made a whole new circle of friends and became line dancing stars.

Jean had many talents. She could sing beautifully, remembered every telephone number she ever dialed, made a wicked tomato aspic and set a lovely table. She also had a couple of pet peeves. First, that the world wasn’t set up for left-handers and second, people calling her by her first name – “don’t call me Mary”!!

Thank you to those who helped Jean navigate the challenges of the last year including her friends and neighbors Denise, Lloyd, Len and Sheila, Drs Harwood-Jones and Kansara and the caring Palliative Care team and staff at Riverview and the Parkway.

A service for Jean will by held at Charleswood United Church, 4820 Roblin Blvd, Winnipeg on Wednesday, November 27 at 2 pm. Tributes to Jean can be made to The Drew Murray Foundation at the Movement Centre of Manitoba https://www.mycharitytools.com/gift/wpgfdn/donate?fund=5933