Peacefully following a sudden illness Beverley Ann Richmond (nee Bell) died on October 18, 2021, in the early evening at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She was 78 years old.
Bev was born in St John, New Brunswick to Donald and Eileen Bell. She was the oldest of four children. She was predeceased by her sister Donna McNabb and Donna’s husband Bruce and their daughter Kimberley, her brother Terry, along with both of her parents.
Bev was someone who enjoyed being outdoors – from climbing trees as a child, to cycling, tennis, downhill skiing, to enjoying her flower gardens, the birds at her feeders and the pond in her backyard.
Bev also tried her hand at various crafts – sewing clothes for herself and her daughter, latch hook rugs, petit point, knitting, candy making, and a bit of painting. She loved her flower gardens and enjoyed problem solving. Bev came up with interesting ways to renovate the house on Ravelston – it was built in the early 1900’s.
Bev loved being around kids. She was involved in setting up Beavers and was a Beaver and Cub leader for many years. Bev also volunteered at Wayoata School with different grades and at Ecole Margaret Underhill, most notably for their book fairs.
She also sang in three choirs. One for Blessed Sacrament Church, one called the Saints and Sinners, and one at the Transcona Seniors Drop-in Centre. At the Transcona Seniors Drop-in Centre she coordinated volunteers and the kitchen routines when the ladies who had run the Tuesday lunches all decided to retire at the same time.
A couple of hobbies Bev had that some might be surprised by include her enjoyment of computer games and that she owned and rode her own motorcycle in her 40’s. She stopped riding her motorcycle after her husband Ron died in 1993, but was still looking for her computer when she was in the hospital.
In the last few years Bev was content to go for lunch at the drop-in center (before covid), go for coffee or lunch with friends and play on her computer. Bev was aware of her memory loss and made a point of being as upbeat as she could be. Even in the hospital she smiled as often as she was able and thanked each person.
Bev is survived by her sister Linda Bacon nee Bell (husband Ed, and children Shawn, Jason, Kevin and Ashley), her brother Terry’s daughter Janice, her sister Donna’s children David and Tracy, first husband Bruce Tonner (wife Dianna, son Andrew), Bev and Bruce’s three sons Robert Tonner (his children Colton and Jade, their mom Lynne Selbie, Jade’s fiancé James Sliworsky and his daughter Alice), Donald Tonner (wife Marie, daughters Hannah and Emily), Brian Tonner (children Joshua and Brileigh Baines, nee Tonner, their mom Heidi, and Brileigh’s husband Brandon), Debbie Woodfine (nee Richmond), Ron’s brother Roy Richmond (wife Sharon, daughter Kelly-Anne).
Bev’s family would like to thank her family doctor, Dr. Aziz, the staff at Concordia Urgent Care, and the staff at St. Boniface – all who were involved in Bev’s final days.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bev’s memory to Cancer Care Manitoba and to St. Boniface Hospital.
A Funeral service will be held at 10:00am on Saturday, November 6th, 2021 at Green Acres Funeral Home, Hwy #1 East at Navin Road.
Masks are mandatory and guests will be required to provide proof of ID and double vaccination.
The service may be joined virtually by accessing the website www.greenacresfuneralhome.com, search for Beverley’s obituary under “RECENT OBITUARIES,” click on her name and then scroll down to the “SERVICES” section under the obituary, then click on the “JOIN LIVESTREAM” link.
