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Eileen Elizabeth Griss nee Collier

Picture of Eileen Elizabeth Griss nee Collier

1927 – 2020

Peacefully, on March 8th, Eileen Griss passed away at the age of 93. Predeceased in 2005 by her husband of 50 years, Harry Griss; Mom/ Nana will be greatly missed by son Paul Griss (Jan); daughter Sue Joyal (Louis); and grandsons Trevor Joyal (Adam), Todd Joyal, Graeme Griss (Brittany) and Colin Griss. Mom was a great mother and a wonderful Nana.

Mom always had a smile and it was genuine and she was frequently described as “lovely”. She loved spending time with family and friends, playing cards and games, eating chocolate and drinking wine. Mom enjoyed knitting, gardening, weekends at the trailer in Gimli, traveling and bowling but, most of all, loved being Nana.

Eileen Griss was born in London, England in 1927, an only child. Her father died one week before the onset of WWII leaving Mom and her mother virtually penniless. Shortly thereafter Mom won a scholarship to a boarding school in the countryside which helped her to avoid the Blitz. She returned to London near the end of the war where she began work as a secretary. Mom met Dad while she was vacationing in Switzerland and once they were married Mom left the big city to move to East Boldon, a tiny village in northeast England where most of Dad’s family lived within a few blocks of each other. There she raised two children in a house with no central heating and few amenities while Dad (who was in the Merchant Navy) was at sea for months at a time.

In 1967, the family emigrated to Canada (Mom was 40!) arriving in Winnipeg where they didn’t know a soul and Mom and Dad had no jobs to go to. Mom went into the workforce after the family settled and retired as secretary to a Deputy Minister in the Manitoba government. Outside of work, she made many friends through her years of volunteer activities with the British Wives Club. Retirement was followed by major bypass surgery and once she had recovered from that she became Dad’s rock as he endured a 9-year ordeal with cancer.

Despite the health challenges, Mom and Dad traveled extensively with trips to England, cruises and many visits to Alberta to see Paul and his family. After Dad passed, Mom continued her travels visiting friends in California, England and Malta and taking cruises with Sue. She even made her first and only trip to Las Vegas with Paul and Sue at the age of 82.

When Mom’s mind and then her body started to fail a few years ago she met the challenge with grace and good humour (and more than a little stubbornness!). The family would like to express its appreciation to the staff of Poseidon Care Home who provided excellent care for Mom over her final months. Thanks also to special friend, Lynn Brown, and to Stella Kandilakis of Comforts of Home Care for their support.

Cremation has taken place and a celebration of life will be announced once the Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mom’s name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of Manitoba, Cancer Care MB Foundation, Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Winnipeg Humane Society.

1 thought on “Eileen Elizabeth Griss nee Collier”

  1. In memory of my lovely Aunty Eileen. She loved myself and my brother and also out children. I’m sure she will be missed greatly. Valerie, Mark and Gill, Robert and Karen and Patrick. With much love xx

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