Obituary of Ann Orbell

ORBELL: Ann (Kinash), February 14th, 1931-August 29th, 2013. After a lengthy illness, and with her family by her side, Ann left us for a better place. Ann was born at the family farm in Alonsa, Manitoba and lived there until her family moved to the North End in Brandon in 1946. She started working right away waiting tables in a cafe on 10th Street. She loved to dance and regularly attended the weekend dances at the Palladium. She met her to be husband, Ion Maxim Orbell in 1956, and they spent time in Alberta, and then Regina, where they were married January 25th, 1958. In 1959, they moved back to Brandon with their new baby, Iona, and lived there ever since. Upon returning to Brandon, Ann took a nursing course and became a Nurse's Aide at the Assiniboine Centre. She would pass the long night shift by knitting and crocheting and making Barbie clothes for her daughter. The night shifts took a toll and Ann left this profession and started working at Canada Packers. She worked there until 1969 when she changed careers again and started working at Gene's Upholstery. She loved to sew and she loved her job until she retired at 65 in 1986. Ann was a home body and loved nothing more than having her family around her. When her grandchildren, Tom and April were born, she so enjoyed having them at her house. She would get right in there and build forts, roughhouse and camp out in the backyard with them. Cooking family meals on all the special occasions were another passion of hers. She would plan for weeks to make sure everything was perfect, and of course she would always have to have the perogies and cabbage rolls that everyone loved, and no one could make better. She hosted these dinners right up to the end until it was just impossible for her to continue. Ann was very blessed that she was able to be here to get to know her great grandchildren, Ethan and Danny (Tom). They loved for her to give them rides on her lap on the wheelchair, and chase them with her grabber stick. And of course they called her "Gramma Doorbell" which she loved. Ann was predeceased by her husband in 1974, and her three brothers, Mike Kinash in 1944, George Zawaski in 2009, and Walter Kinash in 2011. She is survived by her daughter Iona (Don), grandson Tom, granddaughter April and great grandsons Ethan and Danny (Tom). Mom's courage facing all the adversity that came upon her is only surpassed by the unending amount of love she had in her heart. She made us all better people for having been in our lives. We miss you Mom. A private family graveside service was held on Tuesday, September 3rd. Her favorite songs, Annie's Song and Amazing Grace were played for her. Rev Laird Russell-Yearwood of Central United Church officiated.