Eliza Kirkness

Our mother Eliza was born on Tuesday, October 1, 1929 in Thicket Portage MB. She was the oldest daughter of John and Evelyn Moore. She was raised on the trapline along with her four brothers and one sister. With the death of her father in 1942, the responsibility of supporting the family fell on the shoulders of her older brother Adam and herself. They took over the duties of hunting and trapping to feed their family. The family moved back and forth from the trapline and Thicket Portage. Mom and her siblings were not forced to attend residential school because they were not treaty at the time. Her mother had since remarried and she had more brothers and one more sister. They all had resided in Thicket Portage. On one of the moves back to Thicket Portage, Mom met the man of her dreams. She married our father January 4, 1949 in Thicket Portage MB. After their marriage, they resided along the Bay Line, where our father worked. Their main residence was always Thicket Portage. Our mother stayed home and raised the children. There were ten boys and one girl. Mom got the job of caretaker at the Thicket Portage school. Together, our parents looked after the movie, dance and bingo nights in the community. Mom would look after the money while Dad took care of everything else. In 1969, our family moved to The Pas, where mom remained until her passing. During their lifetime mom and dad always had foster children in their home. They were recognized for their effort and named Foster Parents Of The Year. Mom worked for the Kelsey School Division as a caretaker for many years. A few years later, Mom and Dad purchased a handicraft store. This was one of her greatest passions. She enjoyed doing beadwork and making outfits for customers and especially for her grandchildren. They hired a few employees but they were treated like friends instead of employees. Mom would always help people who would come to the house and ask for help. Another passion of moms, was dancing. Together with our dad, they accumulated many awards for square dancing and waltzing. They would love to compete and practice their dancing whenever they had the chance. She kept busy all the time and occasionally took the time to travel with our father on the trips he was usually on. One trip they took together was to Edmonton to attend a supper with Queen Elizabeth II. Mom and Dad also enjoyed playing Bingo. They would travel out of town for their Monster Bingos. She would attend three or four times a week to play bingo. As they both got older they would play radio bingo on Saturday mornings. We knew not to phone them between 11:00 am – 12:00 pm on Saturdays. The greatest passion of all that mom had was spending time together as a family. Family picnics, birthdays and especially Christmas were very important to her. She made sure that every child got a gift and Christmas dinner. She would organize little sport days for the kids during family picnics. She had a bag of money and gave the kids money whether they won or not. Our mother was diagnosed with Diabetes several years ago and in the last couple of years she was diagnosed with dementia. Mom passed away peacefully Monday, November 21, 2011 with her daughter Irene and her son Dennis by her side, at the beautiful age of 82 years. On November 5th of this year, our Dad left this world to prepare a home for Mom. Sixteen days later she followed her soulmate. Our hearts and minds are at ease knowing that they are together again. Eliza is sadly missed by her daughter Irene (Al): sons Marcel (Shelley), William (Gwen), Dennis (Priscilla), Tommy (Loretta), Greg (Debbie) and Irvin (Thelma): grandchildren Shawn (Tracy), Shane (Cheryl), Dylan, Amber, Eliza-Jean, Alannah, Lacey, Jeffery (Phoenix), Erin, Chloe, Zach, Garrett, Erika, Simone, Nevada, Courtney, Cari, Leslie, Jenna, Beth, Luc, Krissy, Stephen, Brent, Marie, Brooke: great-grandchildren Tiffany, Ezekiel, Bridget, Simon, Athan and Chaz: brothers:Cyril Moore, Joe Moore, Marcel Mercredi (Dorothy), Peter Mercredi (Norma): Her beloved sister Sarah Guay (Clayton): numerous nieces and nephews Eliza was predeceased by her husband Andrew, of 62 years, sons John, William, Leslie and two infant sons: Parents John and Evelyn Moore, Ovid Mercredi (Step-dad): Father and mother-in –law Thomas and Lucy Kirkness: Brothers and Sisters-in-laws Adam (Katie) Moore, Gilbert Moore, Arthur Moore, Adelaide Moore, C.R. North, Louis Mercredi, Jessie Moore, Marie Moore: Brothers-in-laws and Sisters-in-laws John (Maggie) Kirkness, Tobil (Sarah) Kirkness, Sandy Kirkness: Sister Rita Mercredi: Nephews John Kirkness, Ernest Kirkness, Gary Kirkness: Nieces Dora Kirkness, Maria Kirkness, Louisa Moore and infant child. Wake services were held Thursday, November 24, 201 and Friday, November 25, 2011 at the Margaret Henderson Parish Hall, Church of Redeemer, Opaskwayak Cree Nation, Manitoba. The funeral service for Eliza was held Saturday, November 26, 2011 at 1:00 pm at Christ Church Anglican, The Pas, Manitoba with Rev. Rebecca Graham and the Ven. Jim Sayese presiding. Music ministry was provided by Mike Jebb Jr. and Isobel Halcrow. Thanksgiving for Eliza’s life was shared by Stacy Mercredi and Tracy Kirkness. Immediately following the service, friends and family gathered at the Christ Church Parish Hall for a time of fellowship and refreshment. In keeping with Eliza’s wishes cremation has taken place and interment will follow at a later date. Pallbearers were Eliza’s children: Irene, Marcel, William, Dennis, Tommy, Greg and Irvin Honorary Pallbearers were all Eliza’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren. If friends so desire, donations to the Canadian Diabetes Association, 200-310 Broadway, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3C 0S6, would be appreciated by Eliza’s family.