Hilda Vickery

Hilda Grace Vickery - Aunt Hilda

Peacefully, on Monday, July 20, 2015, Hilda Vickery, formerly of 55 Nassau, Winnipeg, passed away at the Douglas Campbell Lodge at the age of 98 years.

Hilda enjoyed her nieces and nephews and their children over the years and participated in many family gatherings.  She was known as “Aunt Hilda” to many in Hamiota and Portage la Prairie. She is lovingly remembered by her nieces and nephews, Clifford (Bonnie) Robinson of Orillia, ON. and their children Jennifer and Patrick (Irina); Dennis (Pam) Robinson of Hamiota, MB and their children Paul (Danny) and Mark (Andrea) with great-great nephews Jack and Noah; Vicki Hooke of Portage la Prairie, MB and her children Kayla and Chris (Breann) with great-great nieces Summer and Peyton and Sally Robinson of Ottawa, ON.

Hilda was born and raised in the small town of Makinak, Manitoba, near Dauphin, where she received her early education.  She was the second daughter of Ethel and Christopher Vickery.  Her brother Clifford was killed in World War II, her brother-in-law Paul Robinson pre-deceased her in 1993 and sister Lena pre-deceased her on December 9, 1997.

Hilda attended Success Business College in Winnipeg where she received her secretarial course and became employed at Anglo Canadian Oils Ltd. in Brandon for a few years, also with the Brandon School Board before coming to Winnipeg where she was employed with Swift Canadian Co. Ltd. for 33 years when the plant closed.  She gained employment with the Provincial Government for a short period after which she worked at part-time jobs until she retired in 1994.

During her working career, she obtained the M.C.I. Designation in 1962, a Credit Management Correspondence Course through the University of Toronto, sponsored by the Canadian Credit Institute, Winnipeg Chapter, affiliate of Creditel of Canada Limited.    The Manager, Mr. Peterman, asked Hilda to start a Credit Women’s Group and in September 1967 this group was born and has continued to this date.  She took courses in public speaking and parliamentary procedures, also an evening course at the Red River Community College in 1976 Effective Supervision and Administration.  She attended many credit conferences and chaired several workshops for the Credit Assn. and for the National Secretaries’ Assn., of which she was also a member.

From 1950 to 1965 she was President and Chairman of several committees for Beta Sigma Phi Sorority and also attended many conferences.  In 1974, she was Centennial Chairman for the Fort Rouge Area for the Winnipeg Centennial when, “An Evening of Drama and Art” was presented October 5, 1974 to commemorate the occasion.  The following year the play “Emigrate” was presented in April 18, 19, 20, 1975, by the same group in which Hilda participated.  She was a volunteer of the Western Canada Summer Games in 1990 and the Pan American Games in 1999.  She was also a member of Circle of Fort Rouge Church at Crescent Fort Rouge United Church for over 50 years.

She loved to travel and besides going overseas (Thailand, Malaysia & Hong Kong), she went on many golf holidays to Spain, Portugal, Australia and New Zealand, and to the U.S.  One of her main hobbies was golf where she was a member at Niakwa Country Club since 1951.  She held many positions on the Ladies’ Executive, being President twice, and she was active with the Manitoba Ladies’ Golf Assn.  Her “swan song” was when she was on a team that won the District and Provincial and went on to the Nationals to represent Manitoba.  She was also active in curling for years and played tennis at the Winnipeg Canoe Club and was a member of the Winnipeg Badminton Club.  Hilda loved to dance and was associated with Ballroom and Latin American Dance Clubs for many years where she spent many happy hours.

In later years Hilda sang in a choir at Westpark Manor once a week, and enjoyed many concerts and played bridge 2 or 3 times a week.  She was a member of the Winnipeg Symphony and the Ballet for many years and attended many other concerts and entertainment that came to Winnipeg. In September 2008, Hilda moved to Harmony Court, Riverwood Square and then in May 2011, she moved to Douglas Campbell Lodge in Portage la Prairie.

A celebration of Hilda’s life will be held on Saturday, August 8, 2015 at 11:00 am at McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel, 56 Royal Road S., Portage la Prairie.  Interment will follow at Makinak Cemetery at a later date.

As expressions of sympathy donations may be made in Hilda’s memory to the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba, 108 B Saskatchewan, Ave. E. Portage la Prairie, MB, R1N 0L1.

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