Eleanor Doreen (Stevens) Gunn

Eleanor Doreen Gunn

Passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Monday, May 27 at Malaspina care home.  She was born in 1921 to parents Edgar and May Stevens in Winnipeg.

Eleanor was predeceased by her loving husband Walter, her sisters, Peggy, Shirley & Mildred, great granddaughter Leandra and great grandson Jacob.

Left behind to celebrate her remarkable life are her children, Leona and Bruce, her grandchildren, Jessica(Kevin), Joel(Tamara), Jerry, Kelsey(Dan), Stephen and her great grandchildren, Quinton, Noah, Eli and Zoey as well as extended family and many true friends.

Eleanor proudly served in the R.C.A.F. from 1943 – 1945.  After the war she met and married Walter Gunn with whom she had two children before he was tragically killed in a car accident in 1953.  Following her husband’s death she returned from Regina to Winnipeg and purchased a home which she shared with her mother, sister and for a time her grandmother.

Despite the loss of her husband, this was a happy home full of family fun, good food, lots of laughs and lots of love.  The family motto “clean enough to be healthy and dirty enough to be happy” best described this busy household.

Eleanor never remarried, dedicating herself to nurturing her children.  In order to support them she gained employment in the Wages office at Eaton’s where she had a long and successful career.  After retirement she moved to Lantzville where she enjoyed the west coast and all it had to offer for many years.  At the age of 90 she moved to Kiwanis assisted living where she discovered a welcoming community and many new and treasured friends. 

Eleanor was the epitome of the devoted mom while at the same time being true to herself and her friends.  She had an iron will, an easy laugh and the loudest of sneezes.  Always busy and on the go, she hated waiting…for anything.  As her health declined and her circles got smaller and slower she accepted the change of pace with great grace and dignity. 

In no specific order she loved… camping, books, baking, walking, swimming, the ocean, family dinners, genealogy, Long beach, gladiolas, bridge, curling, birkenstocks, socks, Elmen’s pickled herring and  gin martins ; but above all she loved her family and friends.

Thank you to all the special people in her life.  You know who you are.  Many thanks to Dr. Olivier, Dr. Dodo, Dr. Towers and all the staff at Kiwanis and Chartwell Malaspina.

Eleanor has requested no formal service but has asked for her ashes to be reunited with her husband after a separation of almost seven decades.  A celebration of her life will be held at a later date. 

Eleanor‘s last words were “be kind to each other”; something we can all strive towards.