June 1, 1922 – January 26, 2021
On January 26, 2021, Ida Kathleen Fulford, formerly of Swan River, MB, passed away in Winnipeg, at 98 years of age.
Ida was born in Minitonas, MB on June 1, 1922 to the late Aden Albert and Edith May (Crawley) Pearson. She grew up in Minitonas and, on October 24, 1940, she married Hugh Fulford of Minitonas. In 1941 Hugh joined the Air Force, serving in Brandon, MB and then Debert, NS before returning to Minitonas to resume farming. In 1954 they moved to Swan River when Hugh became manager of the Swan Valley Co-op Livestock Shipping Association while Ida stayed home to raise their six children. She was active in the United Church UCW and was a member of the church choir. She was also a member of the Rebecca’s chapter in Swan River and, with Hugh, sang in the Golden Agers Choir and curled at the Swan River Curling Club.
Ida was loved by all who came to know her for her warmth, her compassion and her genuine acceptance of others. Her home in Swan River was an open door for all her children’s friends and anybody else who happened to be passing by. It was amazing how many people just “dropped in to say Hi” when she was baking her butter tarts or Grandpa Pearson was baking donuts. Everybody was welcome. She was thrilled when, more than 50 years later, many of those neighbourhood “kids” (Bruce, Tom, Bill, Murray, Aaron, Doreen, Merle and others) decided “to drop in to say Hi” to her at The Convalescent Home of Winnipeg, where she lived for the last 3 years.
One of her proudest accomplishments was when, at age 75, she decided it was time to learn to drive. She took driving lessons in Winnipeg and back home in Swan River where she took her test and received her driver’s licence. Such freedom!
Her greatest joy, however, was spending time with her grandchildren. She loved that they still wanted to come to visit her and, in her own modest way, would tell us that she didn’t understand why they did (it was the butter tarts grandma!) but she wouldn’t have it any other way.
At age 89 she moved to Winnipeg and lived at Lindenwood Manor, an assisted living complex where her Swan River friends Mike and Aileen Leung also lived.
Ida was predeceased by her husband, Hugh, in 1996; her brother, Harry Pearson; her sister, Dorothy Goyne (Cowan); her daughter in law, Phyllis and numerous in laws.
Left to mourn are her daughter Kay (Randy)Yeo; her five sons, Don, Aden (Joanne R.), Ray (Diane), Bill (Susan) and Nelson (Joanne E.). She is also survived by her brothers-in-law Ivan and Keith (Freda) Fulford; sister-in-law Norma Hanley; 15 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren and 1 great-great-great grandchild.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held later in Swan River when we are able to get together again.
Ida’s family thanks the staff at The Convalescent Home of Winnipeg for the awesome care they provided. They truly were like a second family to her.
In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire, memorial donations may be made to the resident’s recreation fund at The Convalescent Home of Winnipeg, 276 Hugo St. N. Winnipeg, R3M 2N6, or St. Andrew’s United Church, Box 514 1st Street N., Swan River, MB R0L 1Z0 or your favourite charity.
