Eileen Roberta (June) Manning

Mom was born on August 5, 1935 to Thomas and Dorothy Williams of Hanna Alberta. She was the youngest of the family of six children (an older sister Dosie died at 5 years of age, before mom was born). She had three brothers, Ken, Keith, Bud and two sisters, Joyce and Shirley. Mom lost her mother at an early age and her father worked for the CNR, working many night shifts as a stationary fireman, keeping the old steam trains boilers warm during the night. Shirley and mom were the babies of the family; she would tell us how her older brothers would get them ready for school each day. Despite the hard years during the late 30's, and losing her mother, mom had fond memories of a good childhood and having good friends she would keep in touch with for life!

In the fifties, Mom moved to Calgary, where she worked for the telephone company as a switchboard operator, working alongside her future mother-in-law Isabelle Manning. Mom claims to have met Dad over the telephone, but maybe Isabelle had a hand in the matter! On November 27th, 1954 Mom and Dad were married and ten months later their first son Michael was born. Mom and Dad lived on Kelwood Drive SW Calgary, where two more boys, Myles and Wayne were born. Soon Mom and Dad moved to St. Albert, where they added to the family with their daughter Lynde. By 1967 Mom and Dad were lured to the west coast with a job transfer and better weather. Mom decided to move when it was snowing in April in St. Albert. They decided to live in what was then the very small town of Tsawwassen.

Their life in Tsawwassen was a good one, Mom was soon busy with the various ladies groups and joined a bridge club with ladies she would be friends with for life. In the mid-seventies mom went back to work, her first job was at the Big Scoop restaurant (lots of ice cream for us kids), then for the B.C Ferries. Mom worked in the manning dept. of the ferries for the majority of her career, but later she would work on the ships in the gift shop as a cashier. Most people thought going from the administration side to the ships was going backwards but Mom loved working on the ships and dealing with passengers. During their time in Tsawwassen, Mom and Dad spent countless hours on the coast in their 22 foot boat with friends and family, spending most summer vacations and weekends on the water, between the San Jaun islands and Knight's Inlet.

The 1980's started tough for Mom with the loss of her father in 1980 then the loss of her first born Michael in 1982. Mom was a tough Lady and carried on with life with the same P&V (piss and vinegar) she had always shown! The 80's also provided Mom and Dad with three grandchildren, Morgan, Tyler and Joel, with whom they loved to spoil and spend their time with, taking them on a very memorable California trip. 1986 saw Mom and Dad move to White Rock where they continued to work until they took early retirement in the early 90's.

The 90's were a great time for Mom and Dad, with Dad becoming very active in flying radio control airplanes and Mom spending her time doing volunteer work for the hospital thrift store and her gardening which was her passion! During this time Mom and Dad spent many evenings with cousins Don and Elenor Wiltse and Les and Shirley Dahlgren playing cards and enjoying life in general. In their retired years Mom and Dad made frequent trips to Vegas, took several cruises and even made a trip to England.

The new millennium brought many changes, starting with the loss of Dad (her beloved Ronnie) in 2002. In 2004 Mom moved to the town of Princeton, where her son and daughter-in-law live. Mom was soon greeted by a new granddaughter Piper! Mom soon became Piper's playmate, spending most weekends up at the ranch playing with Piper and cooking hot dogs by the fire. Mom also spent most of her weekdays doing volunteer work for the hospital thrift store and tending her garden in her lovely little home! Mom had eight great years on her own!

In the spring of 2011 Mom started to have what she thought was just a chest infection, but by October she was diagnose with small cell lung cancer. Mom choose radiation and chemo treatment, which gave her more time but by April 2012 it was evident that her time was limited. Mom spent the last six weeks of her life with her children by her side, laughing crying and loving each other. Mom passed away on the morning of May 13, 2012, Mother's Day.

Mom, You and Dad were the best mother and father that any children could ever have!

We love you!

Your Children

Myles, Wayne and Lynde