Winifred "Win" Mitchell Lindsay (nee Keays)

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, due to Covid-19, on December 5, 2021, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, at the age of 103 years 11 months.

Mom was born in Hamilton, Ontario on January 14, 1918 during the “Spanish Flu” Pandemic. She was predeceased by her parents Olive May Kelly, born October 11, 1890 in Cambridge, Mass. and Perceval Howard Keays, born March 31, 1890 in Chicago, Il, husband Dr. John H. Lindsay, three sisters: infant Barbara, infant Beverly, Ruth MacKay (Keays), and sons Peter and Duncan.

Mom was vivacious and elegant, with a notable positive attitude and a zest for life. She had the “gift of the gab”, and was a captivating and eloquent public speaker. Mom was brilliant and quick witted in mind, and had a great sense of humour, even up to her final days.

Win graduated from the University of Toronto with degrees in both Occupational Therapy and Physics. She married a young doctor in 1942, and together they raised their children in Selkirk and Winnipeg, after spending a few years in Vancouver during WW2.

After the children had grown up, Win embarked on a wonderful and trailblazing career. Working as a standards officer for Manitoba Health Services Commission, Win promoted the quality of life and advocated for all Long-Term Care residents in the province. After retirement, and as a Life Enrichment Consultant, Win was in high demand across Canada for her inspirational and motivational public speaking talks on subjects related to positive aging, retirement, and the joys of being older. Mom was the recipient of the Community Service Award in 1999 from the Deer Lodge Foundation, in recognition for outstanding service to the people of Manitoba.

Mom will be lovingly remembered by all her family, which includes 7 children: the late Peter (Judy), Stephen (Judy), Fraser “Phrase”, Jane, Susan (Paul), Daniel, the late Duncan (Ann), 20 grandchildren: Christer, Michael, Olivia, Heather, Cynthia, Matthew, Vanessa, Timothy, Nicholas, Erik, Bonnie, Duncan, Leanne, Keanan, Patrick, Erin, Aidan, Kyle, Elizabeth, Davin, their spouses, and already over 30 great-grandchildren, her sister Johann “Jody” Orr (Keays), nieces and nephews, and so many dear friends.

Mom considered aging a career. She said that to age successfully, one needs to work as hard at it as anything else. When asked for her words of wisdom on life, she responded emphatically, “Just Enjoy.”

A celebration of Win’s remarkable life will be held later in 2022 when the Pandemic restrictions are lifted.

Cremation has occurred. Arrangements were made through Thomson In The Park Funeral Home and Cemetery in Winnipeg, Manitoba.