Obituary of Joan Monsina Rains

RAINS: Joan Monsina Rains (née Sandven) of Brandon, passed away peacefully at the Brandon Regional Health Center on Thursday, August 7, 2014, shortly after her 78th birthday. She is survived by her daughter, Wanda Leigh Rains and her two beloved grandchildren, Tristan and Mariah, as well as by her son, Roy Martin (Lars) Rains and his husband, Montgomery Oddo. She also leaves behind several cats that merely tolerated her. Joan originally trained to be a teacher, working in one-room schoolhouses before eventually moving on to a career as a telephone operator with MTS. She was a voracious reader who went back to Brandon University as an adult to complete her Bachelor's degree in history. Joan was politically active within the Brandon community, working tirelessly as a union delegate and as a board member for many multicultural organizations. She was also very involved with improving the Park Community Centre neighborhood and with supporting the New Democratic Party. In keeping with Joan's wishes, cremation will take place immediately. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date. In lieu of sending flowers, the family suggests that donations in her name may be sent to the Brandon Humane Society at 2200 17th Street East, Brandon, MB, R7A 7M6.