Obituary of Vivian Clarke

CLARKE: Our dear mother, grandmother and friend died on April 17th in her 90th year. Vivian has gone to do the foxtrot with Charlie who crossed over in 2003. Her children, Bill, Sandy, Ngaire, Yvonne, and Robin are sad that we will no longer be able to benefit from her sage advice, to hear the family stories, or to challenge her to a game of cribbage. There is a big hole left in the lives of her 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Her brother, Lyle, passed on just a few months ago. Their surviving sister, Lois, holds on to the belief that despite any distance, they still remain close at heart. Mother was born in Shoal Lake, Manitoba. She began life as a farm girl before the family moved to California during the depression. They came back to Canada where mom would eventually graduate as a teacher from the Brandon Normal School in 1942. Her teaching career eventually took her to Flin Flon where she met and married Charlie. They spent four years in New Zealand and then settled in Thompson. A couple of years in Indonesia ended the international travel before Charlie retired to his market garden in Wabowden. They left the north in 2001, settling in Brandon. Mom was always involved in the community, as a member of the Royal Purple, as a part of her church, and as a volunteer with children's activities, even after her own kids had left home. She loved crafts, cooking, her flower garden, and being outside. She was a great mediator, always able to smooth ruffles amongst her children and her friends. Although her professional teaching career ended decades ago, she remained a teacher of life lessons that we will all remember. A celebration of Vivian's life was held at the Brockie Donovan Chapel on Monday, April 21, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at a later date. In lieu of flowers please consider donations to Plan Canada, 245 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 300, Toronto, Ontario, M4P 0B3 or a children's charity of your choice.