Gwineth Mae Lindsay

Gwineth Mae Lindsay (nee McKinnon) left this world on March 11, 2023. She was 97. Gwen was predeceased by her husband Blair, sister Constance MacDonald and brother Bud McKinnon. She is survived by sons Richard (Jan) and Tim (Randi) and many adoring relatives and friends.

She was the quintessential prairie girl. She travelled the world and lived in unusual and exotic places, but always missed the big sky of the Canadian prairies. Against better judgement, she remained a Riders fan her entire life.

Born in Rossburn, Manitoba in 1925, Gwen was raised in nearby Endcliffe. Her father died when she was just four years old. Her mother Mabel remarried to George Gunn and moved the family to Saltcoats, Saskatchewan. Brought up during the Depression, Gwen experienced the harsh side of prairie life, often reminiscing about miles walked through snow, hand-me-down clothing and modest meals (she claimed a lifelong aversion to rabbit). A favourite memory was attending the 1939 visit of the Queen Mother and King George, when Melville saw its population surge from 4,000 to 60,000 for a day.

Despite the early hardships she excelled at school and moved to Winnipeg to complete courses at business college. Shortly thereafter, in November 1946, she married her life’s companion upon his return from the war.

Marrying Blair also meant marrying the Bank of Montreal. The latter was a demanding partner and Gwen’s life took a nomadic turn. She moved with Blair to numerous towns in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, first as a Bank Wife and then as a Bank Mother. The family lived in Neepawa, Reston, Nipawin (twice), Regina (twice), and Winnipeg (twice), then went on to Ottawa and Montreal. The prairie streak was interrupted with a three-year sojourn on Number One Fighter Wing in Marville, France. This was the first Canadian NATO base in Europe, at the height of the Cold War.

Gwen met the many challenges of being uprooted every two years: making a new home, making new friends, and reestablishing the family in a new workplace and schools. The number of places she had lived was a badge of honour, and she was proud to have left each town with at least one lifelong friend.

She had a zest for new experiences that blossomed during life abroad. While living in France, the family travelled extensively throughout Europe. And when Blair’s career with the bank concluded with placements in Jamaica and the Bahamas, Gwen was the catalyst to experience those countries to the fullest. She loved to recall skin diving on coral reefs, misadventures in shopping, and the cantankerous parrot they adopted and named Alcan after visiting a bauxite mine.

The final stop with the bank was Saskatoon, a good place to become reacquainted with prairie winters. Retirement on the West Coast and year-round golfing soon became a priority.

Life in Nanaimo was an opportunity to build the kind of long-lasting community Gwen and Blair had not had since their youth. They surrounded themselves with new and old friends, many of whom were also retirees from the Prairies — some even from rival banks.

During the winter they paid homage to their Manitoba roots and curled. Year round, bridge and golf formed a large part of their social life. Gwen was good at golf. Her drives were short but straight and she could shoot her age — something that should get easier as you get older but doesn’t. On a glorious day she scored a hole in one; Blair never did.

She was eternally youthful, famously stylish and tremendously fun. Her knitting abilities were legendary. According to family history, she asked for her first pair of knitting needles at age five.

Gwen loved to be outdoors — Neck Point Park was a favourite walk — and she was very much an animal person. In later life, she spent many afternoons on her balcony in the company of small feathered visitors. And at virtually every home her family included a dog. Dogs were some of her favourite people and never failed to bring her joy.

Gwen leaves behind so many people that loved her dearly, and she loved them back. She was defined by her love of her children and four grandchildren and their partners, her two great-grandchildren, her nieces and nephews, and her goddaughter. She treasured her in-laws and loved to laugh with them. She was the best of best friends and many knew her as a second mom. A mentor and a non-judgmental sounding board with the wisdom of a life well lived.

In her final months her wonderful memories slipped away, but family and friends will never forget her.

The family extends its gratitude to the staff of Astoria Suites and Origin at Longwood in Nanaimo.

Plans for a memorial service will be announced.

Memorial donations may be made to the BC SPCA.