Obituary of Melba Girouard

MELBA HELEN GIROUARD: (nee Vickery, Stone, Patton).  June 26, 1919 – April 16, 2022. Melba passed away peacefully at the age of 102 on Saturday, April 16, 2022, at the Dinsdale Nursing Home in Brandon, Manitoba.   Melba is the daughter of David and Emma Girouard.  She was born into a large French Canadian family in Somerset, Manitoba. She was the seventh of ten children.  She was the sole survivor of her generation.   She is predeceased by her siblings: Alice, Bertha, Dora, Lillian, Lorenzo, Donald, Roland, Viola and Orlando.   She was also predeceased by first husband, Frederick Vickery, her second husband, William Stone, two step children, Norman and Billy, and her third husband, Sandy Patton.  Melba is survived by her loving children: Paula (Glenn Hansen), Lorraine Vickery, Gisele (Jerry Sayer), Barry Stone, Sheila Stone and step-son Brian (Deda) Stone.  There are four grandchildren, three great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Melba lived a long and full life. She was a French and Physical Education teacher. Melba devoted her life to Jesus Christ at the age of 58, and became an ordained Minister in 1988 through Gospel Crusade.  She ministered at Feed My Lambs near Clear Lake. She enjoyed teaching scripture, playing the piano in the log church she had built, and enjoyed ministering to people in her campground.    In 2008, she was the recipient of the Wellington’s Active Living Award for older adults who remain physically active.  She was an active cross-country skier, tennis player, and swimmer.  She regularly swam 40 laps at the YMCA, even in her 90’s!  She made seven trips to Gospel Crusade, Bradenton, Florida in her van. She loved the fellowship, swimming, and tennis there.  

A Celebration of Life will be held at Vineyard Church Monday, 1327 Rosser Ave., Brandon, MB on Monday, April 25, 2022 at 4:00 p.m.  A Private Family Celebration of Life will be held in August – date pending.