Obituary of Josephine "Josie" Spearman

SPEARMAN (GUNNLAUGSON): Josie, (née Trottier); beloved mother of Jo-Ann McCabe; Gloria (Elgin) Keeling; Terry (Sue) Gunnlaugson and Daneta (Hartley) Marr; passed away on Friday, January 4, 2019 at the age of 98 years. She was a loving, interested grandmother to Taz, Justyn, Grue McCabe, Jo-Dean Payson; Kathie Evans, Bill Keeling, Jeff Vopni; Nancy Labra, Andrea Furlan, Derek Gunnlaugson; Nathan Minovitch, Tovah Manel and Tara Howell. She has 24 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. She also leaves to mourn her passing her brother Freddie (Karen) Trottier and sister-in-law Doreen Trottier; her step-children Laurie (Gerald) Bartley; Joni Shaw (Jim MacAulay); Dean (Maureen) Spearman and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husbands Fred Gunnlaugson and Elwood Spearman; grandchild Joseph Marr; brother Albert Trottier; son-in-law John Vopni and many brothers and sisters-in-law. Josephine Marie was born on February 3, 1920 in Mariapolis, MB, daughter of Joseph and Seraphine Trottier. She married Fred Gunnlaugson in 1943. They lived in Souris; Landseer; Boissevain and Portage la Prairie. This was where Josie began her career in the restaurant business, owning Josie's Anglo Coffee Shop. She was the president of the Manitoba Hotel and Restaurant Association. She was a director with the Emergency Measures Organization (EMO), overseeing and co-ordinating food distribution in the event of a disaster for the Portage and surrounding area. Josie and Fred moved to Virden and together ran the Gulf Restaurant. Josie was a real estate agent in Brandon, until they retired to Clear Lake and Mesa, Arizona. Fred passed away in 1988. Josie married Elwood (Woody) Spearman in 1993. They lived in Killarney and Mesa, and then moved to Lions Manor. Woody passed away in 2013 and Josie moved to Riverheights Terrace. Josie enjoyed many years spending winters in Mesa with her brothers Albert (Doreen) and Freddie (Karen). She enjoyed dancing, cooking and entertaining; playing bridge, music, cars and just listening to the loons on her Northern Manitoba trips. She was kind, loyal, courageous and much loved and respected by her family and friends. Mom lived life to the fullest. A Celebration of Josie's Life will be held at the Good Shepherd Catholic Parishioners Hall, 1125 Saskatchewan Ave. East, Portage la Prairie, MB on Monday, July 22, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Josie may be made to a charity of choice.