Gwendoline Beelaert

Gwendoline Beelaert, 97, passed away Friday October 19, 2018 at the Russell District Health Centre.  She was born on April 30, 1921 in Wallington, Surrey, England to Charles and Kate (Hurst) Rose.

     Gwendoline grew up in Wallington where she attended Holy Trinity Girls School. She started work at age fourteen in several firms in Croydon and London as a shorthand typist. She joined the ATS(Auxiliary Territorial Service) in 1942 and served until the end of the war. In 2012 she received along with her husband the Queen's Jubilee Medal recognizing their wartime service.

    Gwendoline married Albert Beelaert in 1943 in Reigate, Surrey.  They were happily married for 69 years. She emigrated to Canada in 1946 where she and Albert farmed until retiring to Russell.

    Gwendoline was a member of Christ Church Russell and The Royal Canadian Legion Branch #159 at the time of her passing.  She was also a long time supporter of the federal Conservative Party and a member of its Leaders Circle as well as the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba.

    She had a variety of interests among them reading and crossword puzzles as well as travel to new places.  She was a member of the former Manitoba War Brides Association.

    Gwendoline was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Edith and Marjorie, her son Barry and her husband Albert.  She is survived by her daughter Virginia of Russell and her late cousin Freda Patey's family in England.