Isabelle Armstrong

Isabelle Armstrong

(nee McMillan)

Peacefully at Portage General Hospital on Monday, October 18, 2010 Isabelle Armstrong passed away with family by her side.

Isabelle Armstrong was a life-long musician who brought joy to countless fans of Old Time music. She played piano for Manitoba fiddlers and dance bands through eight decades. Isabelle was born on October 3, 1915 at home at Union Point, Manitoba to Hannah (Crewson) and Gordon McMillan. Shortly thereafter the family moved to Bagot, Manitoba where she lived until her early teens when she moved to the Edwin District to reside with, and assist, her grandparents William L. and Helen Crewson. She completed her education at Edwin. Isabelle married Harold Armstrong on October 3, 1936. They lived in the Rossendale area for a short time, moving to Hartford District and resided there until 1956 when they moved to Portage la Prairie.

Isabelle was predeceased by her parents, by Harold in 2000, by her sister Ellen Cottam, her brothers Donald, Wilbert and Douglas and her grandson Kris Morrey. Surviving her are her children: Melba (Douglas) Morrey, grandchildren Lisa (Kelly) Voth , Karl (Susan), great grandchildren Haleigh (Richard) Wall, Logan Voth, Kaitlyn, Sarah and Kristopher Morrey; Pat (Donald) Taylor, grandchildren Tracey Reid, Jay (Erliss) great grandchildren Ashley, Kyla, and Jay, Jill (Peter) Taylor-Hollings; Colleen Armstrong; Kathi Johnson (Tom Scoular), grandchild Stephanie (Jeff) and great grandchild Lauren Kutny; Kelly (Sally) Armstrong. She is survived by her sisters, Eva (Frank) Sissons, Lila (Jerie) Cavers, sisters-in-law Mary McMillan, Alice McMillan and Joyce Short, brother-in-law John (Madeline) Armstrong and many nieces, nephews and relatives.

Mom was a partner to Harold on the farm and was involved in community life. Her passions were her family and playing the piano. Mostly self-taught, she learned to play the piano well enough to accompany fiddlers at kitchen and community hall dances from the age of 16. She was called on to accompany or entertain at many community functions, fiddlers contests, school concerts and for church. She was pianist for many years for the Ruth Rebekah Lodge. She continued to play piano even in hospital where she spent the final months of her life.

Funeral service will be held Saturday, October 23, 2010 at 1100 a.m. at Trinity United Church with Reverend Julie Baker officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Memorial Gardens.

Memorial donations, if desired, may be made to Portage & District General Hospital Foundation, 524 Fifth Street SE, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba R1N 3A8.

Memory drifts to scenes long past

Time rolls on, but memories last.

Sunshine passed, shadows fall

Love's remembrance outlasts all.

A tree will be planted in memory and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel 857-4021 A message can be left in the on-line guest book at www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com