Blanche Cool

Blanche Isabel Cool

(nee Vandenberghe )

It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of our dear mother, Blanche Isabel Cool on December 31, 2014.  She has now gone on ahead, free at last.  We will miss her, but she lives on in us her children and grandchildren, family and friends.  Blanche leaves us with a legacy of love.

She was predeceased by her husband Maurice Cool (2004), her brothers Bill and Norman Vandenberghe and sons-in-law Bob Cowan and Gerry Upward.

Blanche leaves to mourn her six children Vicki, Patti (Derek), Amiel, Marti, Shelly (Kim) and Tim (Mary Jo); her grandchildren Daniel, Derek (Colleen), Erin (Jeremy); Harold (Melissa), Madison, Lynn (Adam), Amy (Jared), Bryna (Sheldon), Beth;  Marcel, Laurie; Darren (Julie), Mark (Jen), Lisa, Ande, Scott; Keira (Eric), Mike (Julie), Kayla, Amber (Alex); and Jessa, Brodie; great grandchildren Aidan, Owen, Conner, Merida, Elaina, Tristan, Austin, Keenan, Ava, Quinton, Blye and Emily;  sisters Marie Hobbs and Audrey Feader; brothers Stan (Betty) Vandenberghe, Ed and George Vandenberghe along with many nieces, nephews and their families and friends.

Blanche was born on November 5, 1929 in Deloraine, MB to Achille Andemore Vandenberghe and Ethel Mary (nee Meager), the fourth in a family of eight children.  They were a poor family living in a sometimes very cold country farmhouse and many mouths to feed.  They did get by, but knew the harsh realities of life.  Even so, Blanche told her children and grandchildren countless happy memories of her childhood years and her deep respect for her own parents.  They may not have had a lot, but she always said they had “enough”.

This beautiful lady became a psychiatric nurse, a wife and then a mother of six children.  She always felt she was not very smart or ambitious, but she was very knowledgeable and a well-spoken woman. Her eyes always sparkled and her humor uplifting.  Blanche knew her politics of the world and the news at 11:00 pm brought an end to her day.  She loved reading, especially inspirational stories and loved to talk of such.  She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, but was always a kind and considerate person.

Mom was a positive and practical woman and everything that came her way was dealt with accordingly.  Her love was unconditional and was always there.  She was our first love and this has never stopped for any of us her children.  She was our confidant, our counsellor, our friend.  Mom was empathetic, steadfast, wise and humorous.  She also taught us by example and lived as she spoke.  She was practical and knowledgeable and expected us to be the same.

Blanche was a creative person and loved to paint her “spring statues” getting them ready to display in her yard.  She encouraged her children in their hobbies and her love of reading rubbed off on her children – she even wrote a few poems herself.  Blanche travelled to meet relatives in England and Belgium in her later years and felt she had finally accomplished a long awaited dream.  She loved nature and watched birds, squirrels and rabbits come and go.  If there was time in a day and chores were done, you would find her sitting on her front step enjoying the sun and a “cup of tea”!  Blanche always seemed to be keeping watch on the dog outside – Patch or Pooch – which really was a number of dogs through the years.  She loved to feed her scraps to the dog knowing he/she would appreciate them.

Blanche was a lady of her home and her home was open to all.  Friends and family were always welcome and she loved to hear how everyone was doing.  Of course anyone with a concern or problem was treated with the utmost care.  She looked after extended family, nieces, nephews, foster children and babysat for working parents.  Blanche taught catechism at Church and loved the interaction of all children.  Her one great passion in life was babies and the little children, she loved them all.  Blanche knitted and sewed many blankets, outfits, mitts, scarves and donated many handmade items to the Church bazaars and Pro-life.  Her hands were never without something in them, working on something.

“Wherever a beautiful soul has been, there is a trail of beautiful memories” – thank you mom.

Prayers will be held on Monday evening, January 5, 2015 at 7:00 pm at McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel.  Funeral Mass will take place at Good Shepherd Catholic Church on Tuesday, January 6, 2015 at 1:00 pm led by Father Eric Giddins.  Interment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Gardens.

As expressions of sympathy, if friends so wish, donations may be made in Blanche’s memory to the Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 114 Countess Ave, Portage la Prairie, MB, R1N OT2 or St. Antoninus Church, P.O.Box 93, Deloraine, MB R0M 0M0.

A tree will be planted in memory and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel.  204-857-4021 www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com