On this beautiful spring-like afternoon I feel honored and humbled to stand before you with the task of leading in the celebration of the life of Gwendoline Jennie Soura, known among us as mom, gramma, aunt, and to her friends, Gwen.

And the second part of my task is to hand her over to God's eternal keeping, to God's eternal care and love.

There are people who walk into your life and they leave footprints on your heart. Gwen is one of those people for me as I'm sure she is for you.

My first re-call of meeting Gwen was when she came, with her family to Bowsman United Church. For me, this is significant and symbolic - for it was her faith and her trust in God's presence and God's love and providence that defined who she was and what she did in this life.

Truly she was an amazing lady, and I mean lady. She was tested and found true. The heartache of the loss of her mom, and thus, the loss of her birth home - new life in an orphanage - very early, called her to choose what attitude would govern her life. She made the courageous and difficult choice to look at her cup as half full and not half-empty. Whatever came before her had a positive spin put on it. Seldom did one hear her complain. The gift of life was precious to her. The gift of her children - Donna, Audrey, and Ken, you were dear to her.

She would have done anything for you and she did. She was happiest when you were around. And then your spouses and children came into her life - this multiplied her happiness. She loved you, her grandkids and the greats - She took such an interest in you and kept you present with her through your most recent pictures. It was like you were right there in her suite with her and in the last couple of years in the Home with her.

Neighbours and friends were dear to Gwen. She was a true friend and could be depended on. Her loyalty was unwavering. Gwen loved her conversations with friends. Her conversations tended to be reflective in nature and many times you came away from those visits looking at things in life a little differently.

In a few moments we will spend more time thinking about, naming her life as we experienced and understood it. We will name her life, give thanks for it, and then commend her to God's eternal keeping. The words of Paul in II Timothy come to mind today as fitting:

"The time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not to me only but also to all who have longed for His appearing."

Gwen was ready to go into God's eternal peace. She was ready to go home having accomplished all that God laid before her in life.

When Jesus faced His own death He prayed: "Father, into Your hands I commend my Spirit."

Gwen never used these words, at least not to me, but her acceptance of what was to happen was complete. Indeed, it seemed at times so total that I felt within my self a certain sense of awe. There seemed to be in her a secret and a sacred depth that gave her strength to face and to accept what was to come. And when it did come, Monday morning, with you, her family at her side, she very quietly gave her own spirit to the One in whom she had put all her trust - through life.

Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will life, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die."

WE REMEMBER

Gathered in this Chapel in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to celebrate Gwen's long and faithful life - let us spend some time now - recalling, remembering her life.

Gwen was the 4th daughter born to John Henry and Charlotte Mingo. She was born in the Avonlea District on July 22, 1905.

Living 99½ years, she saw many changes. This pattern began very early in her life when her mom died in childbirth, when she was just 7 years old. She went to live with her older sister, Maude, attending the Duncan School.

Soon after, she and her sister Laura went to live in Dauphin where she attended school and worked for her board.

These years were not easy for her but she never dwelt on this. Her childhood was short. When family would ask of this time, she would ask - "What do you want to know all that stuff for?" She didn't dwell on this time and didn't want others to so these years are a bit sketchy.

On March 10, 1928, she married Stanley Soura in Yorkton. During ttheir married years Gwen was homemaker, raising and caring for the needs of her husband and the 3 children born into their union: Donna, Audrey and Ken.

She was a seamstress/dressmaker - working out of her home - capable of creating just about anything if she just had a piece of material in her hand.

In 1951, she and Stan went to work for Jim Griffith's Road Construction. She was the cook for the crew. This was a big job. She worked hard putting hearty meals on the table for hungry men.

In 1959 her husband, Stan, passed away. She worked in Stan Tall's Butcher Shop in Bowsman for a time and then worked in Swan River - first at the Red and White Store and later at Ruddock's Pharmacy until her retirement in 1971.

After retirement she lived in Winnipeg with Audrey for a couple of years from 1973 - 75. She then returned to the Valley.

She was a Charter resident of the Rainbow Lodge - a home for her until 2003, when with declining health she experienced a hospital stay of 4 months and then became a resident of the Swan Valley

Personal Care Home in August, 2003. She was residing there at the time of her death.

Throughout her many years she was an avid curler. She is a life member of the Bowsman Curling Club. When she was no longer able to curl, she became a fan - much enjoying watching the game.

She was involved in her community. Through the Bowsman Women's Institute she sought to improve the quality of life for others. She would become a life member of this organization as well.

She was an active member of the Bowsman United Church since the union in 1925 and prior to this she belonged to the Methodist Church. As well, she served on the Board at Rainbow Lodge for a number of years.