Elizabeth Chapman

It is with sadness we announce the passing of our mother; Lizzie Chapman on Monday, November 4th, 2013. She passed away peacefully in her sleep at the Churchill Health Centre. She was 91 yrs. old. Lizzie was born on the Big Eddy Reserve at home, Monday, July 3, 1922, and was delivered by a midwife. At the time of her birth, our father to be; Sam Pierre was the eleven-year-old boy sent to fetch the midwife. It was then our mother was promised to him. He would unite with her many years later and they would remain together until his passing in April 1959. She spent much of her younger years in Split Lake moving back and forth between Split Lake and the Big Eddy Reserve with her parents. Lizzie is remembered for many years of community and church service work throughout her lifetime in Churchill and Thompson. She was always a strong, respected leader in her church service work with the Anglican Church wherever she resided. In July 1993, Bishop Tom Collings canonized her for her service work in the Anglican Church. She was also one of the pioneers of the early days of community health representatives back in the early 70's. In the community of Churchill, Lizzie was nominated and awarded the International Woman of the Year in 1975. As she raised her family for many years on the Churchill Flats, she also 'adopted' many others in her life to extend her huge family even more. It was a true honor to have her acknowledge you as her 'son' or 'daughter'. She was loved and respected by so many people that are far too many to mention. She will be remembered forever in our hearts. Our mother was pre-deceased by her parents Hector and Catherine (Head) Spence; siblings Mildred, Mervin, Sarah and Ahab Spence; husbands Sam Pierre McGillivary, Alex Chapman; children Anna Edna Prince, Robert (Flicker) McGillivary, and Loreen McGillivary; stepsons Isaac Keeper and Stan Sinclair. She will leave behind her children Freddy (Edna) McGillivary, Belinda (Tony) Vandenbroeck, Louis McGillivary (Cathy), Stanley (Mina) McGillivary, E.Gordon (Joan) McGillivary, Nellie Chapman, Sarah Chapman, Winona (Billy) Chapman-Cochrane; and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. She also leaves behind numerous relatives and many friends from the Tataskweyak Cree Nation (Split Lake) and Fox Lake Cree Nation (Gillam). WAKE SERVICES Saturday, November 9, 2013, Sunday, November 10, 2013 and Monday, November 11, 2013 Margaret Henderson Parish Hall, Opaskwayak, Manitoba FUNERAL SERVICE Tuesday, November 12, 2013 1:00 pm Church of the Redeemer, Opaskwayak, Manitoba Presider: Ven. Jim Sayese Eulogy: Belinda Vandenbroeck and E.Gordon McGillivary ACTIVE PALLBEARERS Anthony McGillivary, Leonard McPherson, Tom McGillivary, Ashley Chapman, Christopher Chapman, Austin McPherson, Sam Prince, Stuart Prince, Travis McGillivary, Jason Kitchekeesik, James Cody Morrison, Bird Cochrane, Sam Vandenbroeck. INTERMENT Emmanuel Cemetery, Opaskwayak Cree Nation, Manitoba HONORARY PALLBEARERS Candida Botelho, Ila Morris, Dylan Burton, Quentin Hart, Hannah Bazlik, Sam (Hammy) McGillivary, Helen McEwan, Allan Spence, Louise Lawrie, Dorothy Morand (McPherson), Fanny Beardy, Janet Fontaine, Eileen Cook, Ann Harwood, Tom Collings, Ruthie Hart and all others who loved and cared for her. A PIPE CEREMONY will take place on Monday, November 11th at 4:00 PM, at the Margaret Henderson Parish Hall. Everyone is welcome to attend. Our grandparents, Hector and Catherine Spence were traditional healers and our mother was influenced by these teachings in her early life. She always spoke fondly of those experiences and how her parents worked with our people in terms of healing. Our family would like to thank everyone who helped from Churchill, Split Lake, Thompson, York Factory and The Pas who assisted us in bringing Mom to her final resting place.