Winnie and Peter Stuart arrived in Thompson in 1970 with six kids in tow. Like most of you, I met the Stuarts at the bowling alley. I knew Mr. Stuart enough to say hello to him, but Winnie I got to know pretty well over the years. As a teenager I just remember her running around the bowling alley busy as a bee with her hands into everything.
But it wasn't until her farewell gathering at the Northern Spirit Manor a week ago that I realized how busy she really had been over the years. After a chat with her daughter Karen, I found out that there was a hobby shop in the bowling alley. I remember the barbershop and I also remember the Townhouse Delivery service. I didn't know that Winnie's husband Peter, and their son, Bill, were instrumental, along with Armand Tetro and Gwen Johnson, in starting up the Twilight Water Ski Club in 1970.
I knew Winnie loved to volunteer for the Thompson Hospital Auxiliary, and youth bowling, and started fundraising bingos for youth bowling, but I didn't realize they started off at the Rec Centre before moving to the Legion. Speaking of the Legion, Winnie was a member for about 25 years.
Peter was a Mason and they were both involved in the United Church. They had a catering business, which they ran through their coffee shop. Winnie ran the concession at the arena since 1999, serving up plenty of fries and burgers for hockey games over the years. This list could go on and on, about the food services she provided at the winter games and how she volunteered during the wild fires to help feed people, but I only have so much space to write about this woman I have come to care about so much over the years.
I have seen Winnie eye's fill up many times when she speaks of her family whom she loves so much. Winnie not only cares about her family, but also has a kind heart and has cared for many people over the years.
Val Little and I went to visit Winnie an hour before her farewell was to begin and got to spend some quality time chatting in the area they had set up for her to greet guests.
Her special friend Sue Brown had organized the come-and-go tea and Winnie was worried that she had made too much of a fuss over her. Her eyes filled with tears as she saw the flowers that were sent to her, and I can only imagine how she must have felt when she saw the people pouring in. At first they came in gradually, but they began to pour in the door and eventually I gave up my seat to make room for someone else.
Winnie, we will miss you and wish you well in your new home in Southern Manitoba. You will make many new friends because your personality is a magnet that will draw them in. You still have all of your friends here that you will not see as often but many of us will not walk through the doors of Thompson Lanes or visit the concession of the arena without thinking of you. See you on Facebook my friend.
