Obituary of Julie Daphne Duncan

DUNCAN: Julia (Julie) Daphne Duncan (née Fox) passed away peacefully on Sunday, 18 September, 2016 in the Palliative Care Unit at Brandon Regional Health Centre. Julie was born on 12 July, 1933 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. At the age of five she moved to the Fort Garry area of Winnipeg with her parents, Myrtle and John Fox and her older sister Pat. She loved all animals and enjoyed many pets growing up and throughout her life. After graduating from high school, Julie attended nursing school at Grace General Hospital in Winnipeg in 1955. Julie nursed at Cartwright Hospital, The King George in Winnipeg and both the old and new Assiniboine Centres in Brandon. Julie met Erle Duncan while she was in visiting her Uncle Ben and Aunt Anne's restaurant in Austin, Manitoba. The pair were married in March of 1957 and would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on 30 March, 2017. As newlyweds, Erle and Julie moved to Winnipeg where Erle began his career with highway engineering for the Province of Manitoba. The couple moved to Brandon the following year and it was here that they settled to raise their family. They welcomed three children: Scott, Lisa-Dawn and Jay. For many years the family lived on 12th Street, making life-long friends in the neighbourhood. Mom was very involved in her children's extracurricular and school activities. She was a wonderful cook and baker, as well as a talented seamstress. Julie was also a dedicated volunteer in the community. She was an integral part of the Westman Christmas Cheer Registry for over 25 years; including holding the position of Director, spending countless hours organizing Christmas hampers for those in need. As well, Julie volunteered at the Nearly New Shop, helping to raise thousands of dollars yearly for the Brandon Regional Health Centre. Julie continued to volunteer at the Nearly New right up until her last admission to hospital. She formed many close friendships through her volunteer work. In 1978 the family moved to an acreage in the Chater area. Erle and Julie worked hard to build a lovely home with gardens of vegetables, flowers and hundreds of trees. Julie loved walks and cross-country skiing on their property with the company of their beloved Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Diggity. In 1986 Julie and Erle moved back into Brandon to their current residence on Queens Crescent. They enjoyed hosting many family gatherings there; especially when grandchildren came to spend summer vacations attending Brandon Mini University day camps. As a retired couple, Julie and Erle enjoyed traveling. They took cruises to Alaska, the Panama Canal and the Caribbean. As well, they enjoyed destinations that included Portugal, the Bahamas, Australia and New Zealand. They loved to drive to the West Coast to visit family in the autumn, taking their cherished Diggity with them in the back of their station wagon. Their last big trip was to Belgium and northern France in 2012 to tour World War I battlefield sites and to visit the graves of relatives who had fallen during the war. Julie had numerous health conditions which impeded her last few years of life. Despite these challenges she remained interested in the lives of those near and dear to her; her husband, children and grandchildren and her close friends and relatives. She looked forward to the many music and dance recitals, school plays, family visits and trips to Clear Lake. Julie was predeceased by her parents John Fox and Myrtle Vant (née Fox and Bird), as well as her sister Pat Floyd, who passed away in the spring of 2016. She leaves to mourn her passing her loving husband Erle; her son Scott and his wife Elizabeth, their children Kaitlin, Saxon, Callum and Lachlan; her daughter Lisa-Dawn and her husband Jamie and son Nelson, with partner Aleesha and children Lennon, Jack and Kai; her son Jay and his wife Heather, their children Liam, Carlyn and Ellie; her sister-in-law Ruth Duncan and many cherished cousins, nieces and nephews. A Memorial Service was held at St. Matthew's Cathedral, 403-13th Street, on Friday, September 23, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. Donations in memory of Julie may be made to the Brandon Humane Society, 2200-17th Street East, Brandon, MB, R7A 7M6, or the Acoustic Neuroma Association of Canada, PO Box PMB #1005, 7-B Pleasant Blvd., Toronto, ON, M4T 1K2.