Carlene Walmsley

The funeral service will be live streamed on Saturday, January 29, 2022 at 1:00 pm, please click to register and view the service.​ https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=8137be7b-0b27-4521-967c-8bea7619019e

With great sadness we announce the peaceful passing of Carlene Walmsley at her home in Portage la Prairie, MB on Saturday, January 22, 2022 at the age of 74 years.

Carlene will be lovingly remembered by her beloved husband Raymond, daughter Tanya (Tristan) Sawka, grandchildren Ava and Asher Sawka, sister Joy (Dennis) Walker and brother-in-law Albert Jeffries as well as numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Carlene was predeceased by her parents Norman and Mary Tilley and sister Louise Jeffries.

Carlene was born in Portage la Prairie, on March 3rd, 1947, to Norman and Mary Tilley. After graduating from Portage Collegiate, Carlene went on to take her nurses training.  Carlene nursed for many years at the Grace Hospital in Winnipeg. During this time Carlene met the love of her life Raymond Walmsley. After a short courtship, Raymond and Carlene were engaged to be married, marrying on December 7th, 1968.

After a short time, married Raymond and Carlene went on an adventure. In the summer 1970   Raymond and Carlene and a 1964 blue Volkswagen Beetle set sail on the Empress of Canada from Montreal. The journey took 6 days crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Over the next year Raymond and Carlene travelled across Ireland and Europe visiting family and friends.  Raymond and Carlene returned to Canada in the summer of 1971, moving to Portage la Prairie. Over the next several years Raymond and Carlene moved from Portage to Austin where they learned the business of beekeeping. After 3 years they moved to Pilot Mound to expand their beekeeping business. In Pilot Mound they added to their little family with the birth of daughter Tanya on February 2nd, 1978. After 17years in Pilot Mound the little family returned to Portage la Prairie to start a new chapter in their life opening Portage Signs & Lettering. The business started small in the basement of their home on Wilkinson Crescent and quickly outgrew the space. The expanding business then moved to the old Portage Creamery building on 3rd Street. After many years of business Carlene’s health began to deteriorate, forcing them to sell the business.

Raymond and Carlene then spent the next couple years travelling across Canada, from coast to coast, and as far north as the Beaufort Sea in the Northwest Territories in their little white camper van. Carlene’s health drastically deteriorated over the next years, making long trips a thing of the past. But now Carlene was on a new adventure, she was a grandma. In 2011 granddaughter Ava was born, followed my grandson Asher in 2015. Grandma Carlene spent countless hours enjoying her little family, as she affectionately referred to them. Grandma Carlene loved to puzzle and bake with the kids. Many wonderful memories were made at The Tilley family cottage on Lake Manitoba with Grandma. Ava and Asher will always cherish the memories of bonfires, marshmallow roasts, golf cart rides, the annual tradition of fireworks and of course splashing around in the water at Delta while grandma kept a watchful eye from the deck. Although long trips were a thing of the past Carlene loved to spend the night in their camper closer to home. Carlene and Raymond went on a handful of mini adventures and overnight trips this past summer.

At a young age Carlene made a commitment to follow Christ and peacefully in her sleep on January 22nd, 2022, Carlene entered Heaven and is now in the presence of her Lord and Saviour.

Absent from the body present with the Lord.

Carlene was a loving wife, mother, grandma, sister and friend. We will remember every day how fortunate we were to have known her enormous love and generosity. Carlene never let life get her down, even though her body of was failing, she never let anyone see her without a smile on her face. In fact, Carlene was famous for telling people to keep smiling… makes everyone wonder what you’ve been up to!

Private family services will be held.  The funeral service will be live streamed on Saturday, January 29, 2022 at 1:00 pm, please click to register and view the service.​ https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=8137be7b-0b27-4521-967c-8bea7619019e

If friends so desire, donations may be made in Carlene’s memory to the Canadian Red Cross, Manitoba Office P.O. Box 2441 STN Main Winnipeg, MB  R3C 9Z9.

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