Obituary of Effie Donalda Woodward

WOODWARD: Mrs. Effie Donalda Woodward (née Johns) of Brandon, beloved mom of Donelda and Evelyn, passed away peacefully at the Brandon Regional Health Centre on Tuesday, June 8, 2010. Effie began her life on a farm outside of Lanigan, Saskatchewan. She spent her teen years in Saskatoon and helped in the family restaurant in Middle Lake. After hairdresser training, she joined her sisters in Flin Flon, Manitoba and worked there for a time before she married Gordon (Woody) Woodward, and started a family. They moved to Dauphin for a time and then to Brandon in 1957. Effie was a strong supporter of the NDP, and before them, the CCF. She was also a long-term member of the United Church of Canada. Effie was an artist in everything she tackled – clay, fabric or wood. She has left us with a legacy of beautiful works of art. Effie is survived by her daughter Donelda (husband John Snyder), granddaughter Jennifer (husband Chris Watson) and great grandsons Matthew, Andrew and Nathan; daughter Evelyn (husband James Melvin) and grandsons Mat, Gaelan and Morgan. She was predeceased by her husband Gordon O. Woodward (Woody) and by all of her sisters and brother. A Celebration of Effie's Life was held at the Trinity United Church on Friday, June 11, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. with Rev Wayne Sanderson officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Effie may be made to the Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation, "Western MB Cancer Care Project," 150 McTavish Ave. East, Brandon, MB, R7A 2B3.