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330-18th Street North
Brandon, MB R7A 7P3
Phone: 204-727-0330
Fax: 204-725-0971

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Obituary for Maude Catherine Ansley (Derrier)

Maude Catherine  Ansley (Derrier)
ANSLEY: Maude Catherine Ansley was born February 21, 1921 in Rainy River, Ontario to parents Catherine (nee Bennett) and Charles Henry Derrier. He worked as a shoemaker. Maude and her family enjoyed a happy though not affluent childhood. When Maude was 11 they moved to Transcona, Manitoba. Her dad took the kids to church and her mom would stay home to cook Sunday dinner. As with many people in those times, the family could not afford to send her to school after Grade 9 and Maude began working for a living.
Maude moved to Brandon, where her sister Dorothy lived, and worked as a maid for a while, then in a beauty shop. From there, she moved to Jean Philip's Beauty Salon. Maude was a hard worker and well-liked – her customers knew she was excellent at doing colours and perms.
In 1952, Maude married Lloyd Emerson Ansley of Brandon. They had two children, Sharon Lea and Shawn Lansen. Finances were limited in those years but family life was very happy. Half the kids in the neighbourhood practically lived in our house. Sunday afternoons, Mom would pack a bunch of food and the family, with a few stowaways, would head out of town for a picnic.
When Sharon and Shawn were old enough, they attended St. Mary's Anglican Sunday School while Maude stayed upstairs, becoming more and more involved, joining the choir, Altar Guild, Vestry, Worship Committees and Bible study groups. Her devotion to the Lord became deeper; she was confirmed at age 45, and she really enjoyed attending many of the annual Holy Spirit Conferences. Maudie made lots of notes about speakers she had heard and literature she had read.
As Lloyd's eyesight worsened, it became necessary to learn to drive, and when Maude was 54 she proudly attained her first driver's license. Not your typical little old lady driver, Maude sometimes complained about other drivers going far too slow. In her early 80s, Maudie was diagnosed with macular degeneration and, as her eyesight became too poor, she graciously gave up the independence of driving and Sharon took over most of Mom's transportation. They bought her the largest TV they could afford so she could see the screen. Sharon kept her Mom active, taking her shopping, church conferences, mall-walking in the Shoppers Mall, joining “Curves” along with Marla and exercising together, then going for coffee and donuts.
As she progressed through her 80s, Maude had trouble with osteoporosis, making walking somewhat difficult. In the fall of 2009, she had to move from her apartment of 20 years to one with fewer stairs. She fell and broke her hip and spent some weeks in the Rivers Hospital in early 2010. At this time, Marla had a job at Sokol Supportive Housing and spoke highly of it to Nana. In mid-2010 an opening came up and she moved to Sokol, which she quickly adjusted to and grew very fond of the other residents. In September, 2010, she broke the other side of her hip and spent most of the fall in Rivers again. Although it slowed her down, she still put lots of miles on her walker. And even with declining eyesight, she still went through scores of audio books on discs. Her attitude was wonderful.
Eventually, the mobility issues became too great and Maudie had to reluctantly leave her beloved Sokol Manor and in May, 2013 moved to Dinsdale Personal Care Home. She quickly fell in love with the staff there and by all accounts they were all in love with her, too.
In her last month or so, Maudie's health began to decline, as if she became more and more tired. She had no serious disease and was not in pain. She died in that most desired manner: warm, in her own comfortable bed, with loved ones having kept her company often in her last days on earth. She was spunky and burned brightly until very near the end, declined very quickly and wasn't in pain, just becoming more and more tired. Maudie died January 12th and her ashes were interred July 8th.
When you meet a genuinely holy person, there is a quality about them which is very special, very attractive, the way we know Jesus was, and you just want to hang around with that person. And when they leave, you feel like you want to cry.
Maude was predeceased by husband Lloyd, brothers Fred and Harold, and sisters Dorothy and Irene. She is survived by sister Kathleen (Garnet) Smith; daughter Sharon (David) Vail; son Shawn; granddaughter Marla Peters (Kent Bednorski) and great-grandchildren Jaiden and Noah.
Friends who wish may make a donation in memory of Maude to the St. Mary's Anglican Church, 401-1st Street, Brandon, MB R7A 2W8; to Dinsdale Personal Care Home, 510-6th Street, Brandon, MB R7A 3N9 or to the Brandon Humane Society, 2200 17th Street East, Brandon, MB R7A 5Y4.
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