Mrs. Alice Mary Gallagher Osborne

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Alice Mary Gallagher Osborne. Alice passed away peacefully with family by her side at home, after a short but courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Alice was 64 years old.

She is survived by her husband Terry Osborne; daughter Erin Osborne; brother Lowell Gallagher (Jay Geller); sister-in-law Mavourneen Worobec; aunt Germaine Schultz; uncle David Collette; nieces Brandy Williams (Steven Hamblin) and Wendy Worobec; nephews Greg Worobec (Christina) and Brian Worobec; great-nieces Taylor Worobec, Trista Worobec, and Angelina Worobec; great-nephews Steven Worobec (Michelle), Teagen Worobec, and Brandon Abel; as well as many cousins and close friends.

She is predeceased by her parents James and Bernadette Gallagher; father- and mother-in-law Ed and Betty Osborne; sister-in-law Dawn Williams; brother-in-law John Osborne; and nephew Steven Worobec.

Alice was born in Grafton, ND and grew up in Cashel, ND. She spent her childhood years on a farm but dreamed of city life. She attended St. Aloysius Academy, Oakwood, ND and graduated from high school as valedictorian (1970) at Drayton High School, ND. Alice began her post-secondary education at Mayville State College, majoring in English and Social Science. She taught for a short time as an English instructor in Bowden, ND and later in Galesburg, ND, before deciding to further her education by attending Minnesota State University Moorhead, earning her Library Certificate.

In 1977 Alice took a trip to Europe with a school tour. Little did she know that on the return flight she would be sitting next to her future husband. A chance meeting on a delayed plane saw her married just over a year later and moving to Canada with Terry, the love of her life.

At 33 years of age, Alice welcomed her daughter, Erin, into the world. The two took some time to figure each other out, but ultimately became best friends. She often remarked that her daughter was the best thing she ever did in her life. The two were mostly inseparable in Erin’s adult years.

Alice became an official Canadian citizen in 1995 and took pride in being able to vote in the country she now called home.

Alice worked for Winnipeg School Division 1 for over 35 years, first as a library clerk and audio visual technician at Churchill High School before moving to Kelvin High School in the same job. Alice was then given the opportunity to become a Cisco Certified Networking Academy Instructor to teach a newly formed networking class at Kelvin. From that point on, she became the computers and business teacher. She helped many students learn the ins and outs of operating a business with the Kelvin Clipper Korner Store, something that she was very proud of; and she helped and encouraged many students in their quest to grasp all that technology had to offer them.

For the last 6 years, Alice was in her dream job, as Teacher Librarian at Kelvin High. She had a great love of literature and language and worked hard to instill a passion for both in not only the students but also the faculty. Alice was also very active in Kelvin’s LGBT club SPECTRUM; she was so proud to work with the students and staff involved with the club and also to march with them in Winnipeg’s Pride Parade. She also took pleasure in supervising the Kelvin girls’ team in the Winnipeg High School Girls Team Handball League for several years.

Alice volunteered as a canvasser for the Canadian Cancer Society. She would amaze (and sometimes terrify) her family with her near-photographic memory. She was sharp-witted and had a pop and classical music knowledge base that never failed to impress. She was a great lover of cats and avid collector of all things dragonfly.

Alice was a kind and understanding person—someone you could talk to about anything, without fear of being judged or ridiculed. She loved with her whole being and gave of her heart and mind to anyone in need. She was a strong, brave, and truly remarkable woman.

Those who knew her well appreciated her enthusiasm for Doctor Who and her special fondness for this quote: “We’re all stories, in the end. Just make yours a good one, eh?” Hers was a good story.

A memorial service will take place at 10:00am on Saturday, April 1, 2017 at Thomson “In the Park” Funeral Home. A private family interment at St. Boniface Cemetery will follow the reception at Thomson.

Alice’s family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Daeninck and his team at St. Boniface Cancer Care, and Victoria General Cancer Care chemotherapy team, in particular nurses Karen Stoltz and Delleen Othey, as well as Michelle Churchill from the Home Palliative care program, for taking such amazing care of Alice and the family through her battle and the final days of her life. Your kindness and care have touched us more than we can express.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cancer Care Manitoba or the Cancer Care Facility at Victoria General Hospital, for the installation of WiFi in the chemotherapy treatment room. This is something Alice pined for during her treatments.