Obituary of Mildred Jarvin

JARVIN: Mildred Jarvin passed away peacefully at Fairview Personal Care Home on December 12, 2019 in her 91st year. "Millie" was born on January 26th, 1928 to Frank and Katherine Tarnowski in Brandon, Manitoba. She grew up and attended school in Brandon, MB. Millie is survived by her son, Kenneth (Wendy) Jarvin, brother William (Joyce) Tarnowski and sisters-in-law Alma (Ed) Jarvin, Jacquie (Clem) Jarvin and Lavinia (Bill) Curran. Millie was predeceased by parents Frank and Katherine, husband of 65 years Walter, brothers Joe, Mike, Stan and Andy, and sisters Josephine, Jennie and Olga. Millie's earlier years found her working at the Strand Theatre and the Brandon Hospital for Mental Diseases, (Brandon Mental Health Centre), as a nurse's aide. She married Walter at St. Augustine's Church on September 30, 1950, and Kenneth was born five years later. Ambitious and energetic, Millie enjoyed serving in many capacities including receptionist at the Western Medical Clinic and salesclerk for Heming Jewellers under Ted and Elvira Heming. Her flare for style and decorating was always evident in her homes, and was especially drawn upon when she became manager for Lighting Unlimited that opened in Brandon on the corner of 18th and Richmond back in the 70's. Millie later purchased the franchise. The 80's saw Millie move her store to the expanded Brandon Shopper's Mall and open under its new name, Jarvin Lighting. Millie loved attending lighting and decorating product shows and brought many beautiful items back to her store to be incorporated in stylish displays. Her gorgeous discoveries found their way into Brandon and surrounding area homes. Travel was a big part of Millie's life and she enjoyed numerous trips with Walter for many years. One adventure found them at the top of a pyramid in Guatemala… discovering getting down was a little more difficult than the climb up. Millie also loved music… oh she loved music. Her favorites were the wonderful outdoor concerts shown on PBS TV featuring artists such as Pavarotti, The Three Tenors, Helmut Lotti and Andrea Bocelli. She enjoyed their music on concert DVD's right up to the last moment. Her most cherished event featured VIP seating and a Meet and Greet with Il Divo at MTS Centre in Winnipeg. Millie was well known for her love of growing flowers, which peaked when her and Walter built a new house on Hanbury Place in Brandon. The property featured numerous floral displays including her wonderful lilies. Millie and Walter then began grooming the area now known as Sir Winston Churchill Park which the house backed on to and continued maintaining it for many years. They mowed, planted flowers and provided seating areas until the City of Brandon eventually took over maintenance and later developed Hanbury Hill. A service to celebrate Millie's life will be held at the Royal Canadian Legion – Branch #3, Brandon, MB, Canada, 560-13th Street East on Saturday, December 21st at 1:00 PM. Flowers are gratefully declined.